Tower 180

Vision

Situated in a prime location in the heart of Downtown San Diego, this existing tower was hampered by its dated façade, tired common areas and lack of robust amenity spaces. HV Companies aimed to reinvigorate the mid-century building in order to attract new and more tenants. The tower was originally designed in 1963, heavily influenced by the International Style with Mid-Century architectural motifs and details. Strong vertical lines of curtain wall and white columns accentuated the building’s height but were too strongly rooted in its 20th century modernist origins.

To respect the tower’s original design and capitalize on its existing successful qualities, we opted to maintain the prominent vertical motifs; the white columns were clad in tapered metal fins that extend from the tower’s base all the way to the roof where they shoot up toward the sky. These metal fins also house a series of LED lighting elements that animate the entire building at night. We improved the curtainwall with high-performance glazed units that preserve the tower’s original aesthetic but enhance its energy performance. New vertical mullions work in tandem with the metal fins to create a layered effect along the curtainwall.

Inside, our interiors team wanted to reinvent Tower 180 as an elegant and sophisticated workplace with design elements that relate to the architectural nuances on the exterior. The vertical lighting along the metal fins is reinterpreted inside with museum-like lighting in common areas.