Guides While you were gone: Downtown S.F.’s 10 new architectural highlights Construction didn't stop during the pandemic: Central San Francisco has added new towers, plazas and head-turning architecture since March 2020. Here are some of the newcomers worth seeing. By John King | April 15, 2021 | Updated: April 16, 2021 10:45 AM If you haven’t visited central San Francisco since March of 2020, be prepared for unfamiliar sights — like when you see an old friend and realize that your mental snapshot is out of date. The changes go far beyond social distancing decals on sidewalks outside the stores and cafes that remain open (bless them!). We’re talking re-imagined public spaces and newly opened towers, along with smaller buildings that add a visual jolt to once-busy corners. So if you are heading in, to work or shop or simply wander, these 10 spots are worth a visit — destinations conceived before life as we knew it slammed to a halt.