Crews Dismantled Nude Sculpture at Embarcadero Plaza
The 45-foot structure known as I Am was removed to make way for a new city park.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Remote Work
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Workers have broken down the 13,000-pound sculpture known as I Am, formerly R-Evolution, at Embarcadero Plaza. The removal clears the space for the city to begin construction on a new park at the site.
Why it matters
The sculpture stood at the plaza for 18 months, serving as a prominent landmark near Market Street. Its removal signals the start of the city's plan to transform the area into a new green space before the end of the year.
The 45-foot structure weighs 13,000 pounds and was broken into nine pieces for transport, with an asking price of $5 million currently listed for the work. Its 18-month tenure at the plaza ends as the city prepares to break ground on a new park.
The players
I Am
A 45-foot tall, 13,000-pound sculpture formerly known as R-Evolution that stood at Embarcadero Plaza.
The details
Crews used a crane to dismantle the sculpture limb by limb, crating the pieces for shipment to a warehouse in Petaluma for refurbishment. This work follows the sculpture's 18-month residency at the plaza after its April 2025 installation. The site is now slated for park construction, which the city expects to begin before the end of 2026.
Timeline
2015: The sculpture was originally created for the Burning Man festival.
April 2025: The sculpture was installed at Embarcadero Plaza.
October 13, 2026: Workers began the disassembly of the sculpture.
October 14, 2026: Trucks will haul the sculpture pieces away from the site.
Before the end of 2026: Construction on the new city park is scheduled to begin.
Across the Bay
The sculpture's history as an installation from the 2015 Burning Man festival contextualizes its aesthetic and physical scale compared to standard city art commissions. Its removal marks the conclusion of a long-term public display for the work.
You will see the area around Embarcadero Plaza cleared of the sculpture by tomorrow, October 14, as trucks depart the site. Expect construction activity to arrive at the plaza before the end of the year as the city begins building the new park.
The takeaway
The removal of the sculpture signals the imminent transformation of Embarcadero Plaza into a new municipal park. Residents can watch for the start of construction on the site as the city moves toward its year-end goal.
What happens next
Construction on the new city park at the former sculpture site is scheduled to begin before the end of 2026.
Further reading
For more on how the city manages its public spaces and commercial districts, visit Remote Work.
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