Walking down Market Street, you can't really miss it. It towers. 38 stories of aluminum and glass right at the corner of Market and Fremont. If you've spent any time in the Financial District, 425 Market Street San Francisco California 94105 is basically a permanent fixture of the skyline, even if you didn't know the exact address until now.
It’s big.
Completed back in 1973, this skyscraper was originally the headquarters for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. Locals still sometimes call it the MetLife Building, though the blue branding is long gone. It represents a specific era of San Francisco architecture—sturdy, imposing, and unashamedly corporate. But honestly, in a city where office vacancy rates have been a major headline for years, this specific spot at 425 Market Street tells a much more nuanced story about where the city is headed than just another "doom loop" narrative you see on the news.
The Reality of 425 Market Street San Francisco California 94105 Today
Look, the Financial District (FiDi) has changed. You know it, I know it. But 425 Market has managed to hold onto a sense of prestige that other B-tier buildings are losing fast. It’s a Class A office space, which in real estate speak basically means it's the fancy stuff.
The building is managed by Cushman & Wakefield and owned by a partnership involving MetLife and Norges Bank Investment Management. When you have owners with pockets that deep, the building doesn't just sit there and rot. They’ve poured money into the lobby and the common areas because, frankly, they had to. To get tech workers and lawyers to leave their couch in Oakland or their home office in Marin, the building has to offer something better than a standing desk and a coffee machine.
We are talking about nearly 950,000 square feet of space. That is a massive footprint.
The tenant mix is a bit of a "who's who" of corporate stability. You’ve got law firms like Morrison & Foerster (MoFo), who have been long-term anchors here. Then there's IBM. Having Big Blue in the building gives it a certain gravity. It’s not just a flashy startup hub that might disappear in six months when the VC funding dries up. It’s where the "adults" in the room have historically worked.
Why the Location Actually Matters
If you’re looking at 425 Market Street San Francisco California 94105 on a map, you’ll notice it’s basically the bullseye of transit.
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You’re steps away from the Embarcadero BART and Muni station. That is the gold standard for SF real estate. If your employees can get off a train and be at their desk in three minutes without getting rained on or having to hike up a hill, you win. It’s also right near the Salesforce Transit Center. The proximity to the Ferry Building is the real kicker, though. Being able to walk over for a $15 porchetta sandwich at Roli Roti on Thursdays is a legitimate perk that people actually care about.
The views from the upper floors? Ridiculous.
Because of its positioning, you get these sweeping vistas of the Bay Bridge and the Ferry Building. It reminds you why people pay the "SF tax" to live and work here. On a clear day, you can see the fog rolling past the hills of the East Bay. It’s distracting, in a good way.
The Architecture: More Than Just a Box
Designed by the firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the building has that classic 70s modernism. It’s not "pretty" in the way the old brick buildings in Jackson Square are, but it has a functional elegance. The bronze-tinted glass and the vertical aluminum fins give it a texture that changes depending on how the sun hits it.
The floor plates are large—roughly 22,000 to 28,000 square feet. For a big company, that’s huge. It means you can keep an entire department on one floor instead of splitting them across three levels. In the post-pandemic world, companies are looking for "flight to quality." They want fewer square feet but better quality, and 425 Market fits that bill perfectly.
Dealing with the San Francisco Office Market
Let's be real for a second. San Francisco's office market has been through the ringer.
The city saw vacancy rates climb toward 30% in recent years. But here is the thing: the high-end buildings at the best addresses—like 425 Market Street San Francisco California 94105—are actually doing okay. It’s the older, darker buildings on the side streets that are in trouble.
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- Security is a priority: Like most major FiDi buildings, 24/7 security isn't just a bullet point; it's a necessity.
- Sustainability: It’s LEED Platinum certified. In 2026, you can't attract a top-tier tenant if your building is an environmental disaster. They’ve optimized the HVAC and water systems to be as green as a skyscraper can get.
- Amenities: There's a fitness center, secure bike parking, and even a conference center for tenants.
What’s interesting is how the ground floor retail has shifted. You used to see just bank branches and boring sandwich shops. Now, there’s a push to make these spaces more "activated." You need a reason for people to hang around after 5:00 PM.
What You Should Know If You're Visiting or Leasing
If you're heading there for a meeting, don't just wing the parking. Parking in this part of San Francisco is a nightmare and will cost you a fortune. Take BART. Seriously. If you must drive, there is a garage in the building, but expect to pay premium prices.
For businesses looking at space here, you have to understand the lease structures in SF. Most are "Full Service Gross," meaning the landlord handles the taxes, insurance, and maintenance. But even within that, there’s room to negotiate tenant improvement (TI) allowances. Landlords at 425 Market are often willing to put money into your build-out if you’re signing a 5- or 10-year deal.
The building also sits right in the "North South" corridor of the city's tech and finance split. To the south, you have the newer tech-heavy SOMA district. To the north, the traditional finance world. 425 Market sits right on the border, making it a bit of a hybrid.
Impact of the AI Boom
San Francisco is currently the world capital of Artificial Intelligence. While much of that activity is centered in the Mission or Hayes Valley, the spillover is hitting the Financial District. As AI companies scale from 10 people to 200, they need "grown-up" space. They need the infrastructure that a building like 425 Market provides.
You’re starting to see a shift where the "old guard" law firms are sharing elevators with AI researchers. It’s a weird mix, but it’s keeping the lights on.
Actionable Steps for Navigating 425 Market Street
If you are a business owner considering a move or a professional working in the area, here is how you handle this micro-neighborhood:
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1. Audit your commute options before signing a lease.
Don't just assume people will drive. Check the proximity to the Salesforce Transit Center and the Embarcadero BART. At 425 Market, you are at the nexus, which is your biggest recruiting tool.
2. Leverage the LEED status.
If your company has ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals, the LEED Platinum rating of this building counts. Use it in your annual reports. It’s not just fluff; it’s a verified metric of efficiency.
3. Explore the "Secret" Public Spaces.
San Francisco has "POPOS" (Privately Owned Public Open Spaces). While 425 Market is a private office tower, the surrounding area is dotted with small plazas and rooftop gardens that are legally required to be open to the public. Use them for a break.
4. Secure your perimeter.
If you're leasing, ensure your specific suite has its own badge access integrated with the building's main security. The building is safe, but in a dense urban environment, double-layered security is just smart business.
5. Negotiate for flexibility.
The market is still tenant-favorable in many ways. Even in a premier building like this, ask for "expansion rights" or "contraction rights" in your lease. The world changes fast; your office footprint should be able to change with it.
The bottom line is that 425 Market Street San Francisco California 94105 isn't going anywhere. It has survived the 1989 earthquake, the dot-com bubble, the 2008 crash, and a global pandemic. It remains a cornerstone of the San Francisco economy because, at the end of the day, location is the one thing you can't replicate with a Zoom call.