AMB Property, a San Francisco-based REIT with primarily industrial properties, says that it chose to invest in the waterfront redevelopment because it marks the first major renovation of one of San Francisco's piers in order to preserve the historic formerly industrial space. The firm aimed to create a unique environment that identified with their core business strategy.

AMB reconstructed a 70,000-sf warehouse, originally created for the C&H Sugar Refining Corp. in the 1930's, into an innovative, seismically sound office complex withy 150,000-sf of space. The company managed to preserve the historic appearance of the property.

In addition, Pier One has over an acre of public space with an arched walkway and public promenade. Mixing history with modern-day technology, its windows are replicas of the originals, which innovations include state-of-the-art technology, underwater improvements to the structure's stability and a specialty environmental system.