Advancing a new chapter in San Francisco’s waterfront transformation

Located on San Francisco’s southeastern waterfront, Candlestick Point is part of a historically industrial area shaped by former shipyard activity, major transportation corridors, and the former home of the San Francisco Giants and 49ers, Candlestick Park. The approximately 750-acre site is being transformed from underused land into a connected mixed-use district with housing, commercial and retail space, parks, open space, and community amenities. The redevelopment also addresses the environmental, infrastructure, and community considerations involved in reconnecting historically underserved neighborhoods to the broader city.

Technical review to support responsible redevelopment

Ramboll has been supporting the environmental reviews for the Candlestick Point redevelopment for nearly two decades. Our experts have provided technical analyses for air quality, greenhouse gas (GHG), energy, and noise. Our work helped evaluate whether proposed land use, phasing, and infrastructure would alter environmental impacts and whether mitigation measures to reduce the project’s impacts would be required.

Drawing on decades of experience supporting complex waterfront and brownfield redevelopments, we assessed how the project could influence air pollutant and GHG emissions, energy demand, traffic-related impacts, and community noise exposure.

Assessing impacts across air, climate, energy, and noise

For air quality, Ramboll evaluated potential construction and operational impacts, including criteria air pollutants, diesel particulate matter, toxic air contaminants, carbon monoxide, particulate matter (PM2.5), odor, and consistency with regional air quality planning goals. The team applied state of the art emissions modeling approaches and conducted health risk and dispersion analyses to assess potential effects on nearby residents and sensitive receptors. Special consideration was given to evolving regulatory requirements and changing project conditions, ensuring that environmental conclusions reflected both current science and project-specific realities.

Ramboll also led the GHG assessment, evaluating construction and long-term operational emissions associated with the development program. Using emissions modeling tools and accounting for changes in building energy standards and transportation emissions regulations, the analysis considered how the project aligns with California and local climate objectives while identifying opportunities to reduce long-term carbon impacts.

To support the project’s energy analysis, we estimated building electricity demand, natural gas consumption, and transportation energy use, helping the project team understand how modifications to land uses and development timing could affect overall energy performance.

Additionally, our noise specialists assessed both construction and operational noise and vibration impacts associated with construction phasing, equipment usage, traffic-related noise, mechanical systems, and infrastructure components. When it was identified that deep dynamic compaction would be necessary to stabilize the land, Ramboll evaluated vibration impacts to determine if additional controls would be necessary to reduce the impact on surrounding buildings.

Building on a long-term commitment to the waterfront

This project builds on Ramboll’s longstanding involvement in the Hunters Point-Candlestick Park redevelopment effort, where our multidisciplinary teams have helped guide environmental planning, land use compatibility, air quality, climate, and health risk analyses. By integrating technical rigor with a community-focused perspective, Ramboll continues to support the creation of a waterfront district that is environmentally responsible, socially inclusive, and economically vibrant.