By Mauricio Segura June 11, 2025
Photo: Photo: GBT Graphics
Pier 70 in San Francisco is preparing for a bold leap into the future. On the horizon is Elevation Sky Park, a state-of-the-art entertainment complex spanning 165,000 square feet—comprising three spherical geodesic domes and a pyramid structure. Slated to open in early 2026, it signals a major pivot in the long-stalled redevelopment of Pier 70 and Dogpatch, a waterfront neighborhood in revival mode.
For years, the redevelopment of Pier 70 had stalled. Plans once included office towers, residential units, and expansive parkland. However, major tenants pulled out, adverse conditions stalled progress, and inactivity took hold. Now, Brookfield Properties, owner of the plot, is injecting fresh momentum with this high-impact hub.
Elevation Sky Park isn’t simply another event space, it’s envisioned as a “sensory playground.” With its domes adaptable to an array of immersive events—from live concerts and interactive art to digital storytelling and hands-on workshops, it’s deliberately built to be fluid, offering something for every type of visitor.
It pales in scale compared to the project that inspired it: the Las Vegas Sphere. That 360-foot-high, 516-foot-wide, $2.3 billion marvel opened in September 2023 and redefined live entertainment. Its exterior is wrapped in a monumental 580,000-square-foot LED system that can display sweeping visuals, while internally, a 160,000-square-foot, 16K-by-16K LED screen completely immerses audiences. An advanced audio system—Sphere Immersive Sound, leverages over 167,000 individually controlled speakers with beamforming and wave-field synthesis tech. Thousands of haptic-equipped seats let you feel every beat.
That full-scale sensory takeover creates an unmatched experience. It succeeds by weaving architecture, multimedia, and performance into a seamless whole, far beyond the capabilities of standard venues.
Elevation Sky Park scales that cutting-edge vision to San Francisco’s context. Each dome and the pyramid are crafted for flexibility: transformable for concerts, digital art showcases, interactive installations, or intimate workshops. This matches its multi-experiential ambition, visitors can move between passive spectatorship and active immersion.
Technologically, the project will integrate advanced projection, lighting, sound systems, and multimedia canvases with artistic displays and performances. Its goal is to create a fully sensory environment, where visitors are active participants, not just observers.
On the cultural side, Elevation XR, who spearheads the installation, brings strong credentials. They've worked on large-scale immersive domes in events like Wisdome LA and Burning Man. Their involvement confirms the project’s artistic ambition and shows intention beyond simple entertainment.
Moreover, Sky Park is intended as much more than a standalone venue. It's a lynchpin in the regeneration of Pier 70. Supporting this is the revitalization of historic Building 12, now a lively marketplace featuring eateries, craft workshops, pickleball and padel courts, and artisan vendors. The city sees this project as catalytic, drawing locals and tourists, and breathing economic life back into the waterfront.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie emphasized this vision. He noted the city’s identity as “led by art,” acknowledging that Elevation Sky Park will transform Pier 70 into a unique cultural destination, where music, sculpture, design, and community connection converge.
In an urban landscape hungry for a revival, Elevation Sky Park represents more than just flashy architecture. It’s a daring experiment in redefining what a cultural venue can be—melding multisensory art, performance, urban renewal, and civic ambition. If successful, it won’t just entertain; it will reframe Pier 70 and Dogpatch, morphing an old shipyard into a beacon of imagination and engagement, San Francisco style.
Only time will tell how well this “mini-Sphere” translates into local success. But for now, it’s already sparked hope that Pier 70 is headed for a spectacular rise.
