Ritz-Carlton at 690 Market Street

ISI provided inspections for the rehabilitation of the historic former Chronicle Building, the first steel-framed skyscraper built in San Francisco. Designed by prominent architects Burnham and Root, the building was constructed in 1889 and at the time featured the world’s largest clock lit entirely by electricity. It stood as the tallest building in San Francisco from until 1898. The completely fire-proofed structure survived the devastating 1906 earthquake, and, after various transformations, is now being converted into a Ritz-Carlton Club.
The pre-existing interior was demolished to make way for the erection of a new structural steel frame. About 225,000 square feet of space was added by extending the building by seven stories. The historic rehabilitation also called for the removal of the building’s steel cladding to reveal the original brick façade underneath.