Increasing Resilience of the San Francisco Waterfront with Engineering Innovation-Paper

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The Potrero Power Station project is transforming a 29-acre former industrial site on San Francisco’s eastern waterfront into a mixed-use development with seven acres of public space. The shoreline upgrades address two major risks: rising sea levels and earthquake-induced slope instability. The site’s reclaimed fill overlies weak, compressible Young Bay Mud, making it vulnerable to lateral spreading.

The design raises much of the waterfront by 7–8 feet and accounts for about 7 feet of projected sea-level rise over an approximately 75-year design life. New structures were designed for the Maximum Considered Earthquake. Because shoreline conditions and existing structures vary, the project uses several tailored solutions:

- <strong>Deep soil mixing (DSM) buttresses</strong> reinforce the shoreline and reduce seismic movement. Analysis indicated that the improvements could limit post-earthquake horizontal displacement to 0–0.2 feet, compared with an unmitigated estimate of 2–4 feet.
- <strong>Grouted tiebacks</strong> provide additional sliding resistance for the Unit 3 Intake Structure, which was retained, filled, and adapted to support the raised grade.
- <strong>A pile-supported seawall</strong> replaces a severely deteriorated masonry wall and accommodates the higher grade and future sea levels.
- <strong>A pile-supported wharf</strong> stabilizes an offshore slope where DSM improvements were not extended into the tidal zone. Closely spaced bayside piles provide a pinning force against potential slope movement.
- <strong>Riprap</strong> protects areas exposed to scour and wave action.

Together, the ground improvements and structures reduce seismic vulnerability, address sea-level-rise impacts, and support the creation of a safe public waterfront. The project demonstrates how engineering solutions tailored to local conditions can improve resilience while rehabilitating a complex post-industrial shoreline.

Keywords

Potrero Power Station

San Francisco waterfront

mixed-use development

sea level rise

earthquake resilience

shoreline stabilization

deep soil mixing

lateral spreading

pile-supported seawall

public space