Developers Transformed Downtown Office Towers Into Resorts
New office projects at 88 Spear and 301 Battery prioritize hospitality amenities over traditional layouts.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Remote Work
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San Francisco office workers and downtown visitors will soon see a shift toward resort-style workspaces at major real estate hubs. Developers are replacing traditional office environments with hospitality-driven amenities like rooftop restaurants and spas.
Why it matters
As the demand for office space evolves, developers are betting that workers and tenants require hospitality-centered experiences to justify returning to the office. It remains to be seen whether this shift to office resorts will successfully stabilize downtown occupancy long-term.
Developers have committed $100 million to renovating 88 Spear following its $41 million purchase, while the 301 Battery site holds 155,000 square feet of vacant office space. The success of these hospitality-driven investments versus traditional models remains unknown.
The players
Presidio Bay
The real estate developer currently leading the transformation of 88 Spear and 301 Battery into amenity-focused office resorts.
RFR Holding
The investment firm that purchased the 301 Battery building in 2020 for $143 million.
The details
Presidio Bay is constructing Alto88, a 10,000 square foot rooftop restaurant, atop the 12-story 88 Spear Street building. The site has already secured leases from Norwest Ventures, Arsicault Bakery, and Canopy for lower floors. Additionally, the firm acquired the former federal reserve building at 301 Battery through a deed-in-lieu-of-foreclosure transfer to begin a separate resort-style office redevelopment.
Timeline
1924: Original construction of the 301 Battery building.
2020: RFR Holding purchased 301 Battery for $143 million.
2023: Presidio Bay purchased 88 Spear for $41 million.
October 2026: Developers led a hard hat tour of 88 Spear.
Upcoming: Alto88 is expected to be completed in a few months.
Across the Bay
This project follows the trend of hospitality-driven office conversions recently seen in other major downtown developments. These renovations mark an expansion of the office-to-resort amenity shift currently redefining how commercial space is utilized across the city.
Residents and workers can expect the new Alto88 rooftop restaurant at 88 Spear Street to open in the coming months. These projects signify a change in downtown amenities, turning office districts into hospitality-driven destinations.
The takeaway
Downtown developers are increasingly betting on high-end hospitality to bring office life back to the city core. Watch for the official opening of the 10,000 square foot Alto88 space to gauge if these new amenities draw consistent foot traffic to the Spear Street corridor.
Further reading
For more on how local workspaces are changing, read our latest updates on Remote Work.
Source note: This article includes information reported by San Francisco Chronicle.
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