Celeste | South San Francisco, CA

Near the Caltrain station in South San Francisco, the blocks along Miller and Cypress Avenues were ready for a stronger residential presence. A first phase of housing had already taken shape, and Sares Regis set out to complete the vision with a second: a building that would add homes close to transit and give the neighborhood a more walkable, connected street life.

The challenge was density with grace. Celeste stacks eight residential stories over a two-level garage, Type IIIA over IA, delivering 195 rental apartments including four townhomes. Rather than letting parking dominate, the design wraps the garage with amenity spaces and dwelling units along both street frontages. As Phase II, the building needed to match the scale and complement the style of its Phase I neighbors while charting its own contemporary expression. BDE Architecture partnered with Sares Regis to resolve these demands into a single, coherent building.

Today Celeste opens to the street with a double-height lobby, and many homes have their own balconies. Two fourth-floor landscaped courtyards give residents places to gather and play, while the active frontages encourage foot traffic and draw Miller Avenue into a closer visual connection with its surroundings.

Address: 216 Miller Avenue, South San Francisco, CA, 94080

Client: Sares Regis

Number of Units: 195

Construction Type: IIIA / IA

Photographer: Steve Magner (2024)

Modern multi-story apartment building at dusk with illuminated windows and street lights, with cars passing by on the street.
Modern multi-story apartment building with large windows, orange and gray exterior accents, and a sign that reads 'Celle' against a partly cloudy sky.
Modern residential apartment buildings with lit windows in foreground, hillside with sparse vegetation and a few buildings in the background, clear sky at dusk.
Modern multi-story residential buildings with varied colored facades, large windows, and street view with black lampposts, trees, and parking signs.
Balcony terrace with modern outdoor furniture, hanging chairs, potted plants, and string lights, overlooking city buildings and mountains in the background.
Aerial view of a modern apartment complex courtyard featuring landscaped garden beds, a small grassy area with a sheltered bench, outdoor seating with tables and chairs, and paved walkways, surrounded by multi-story residential buildings.
Modern living room with large windows, sheer curtains, potted plants, beige and white furniture, and black accent tables.
Modern grey elevator door with black trim, flanked by white walls, with a small black side table holding a white abstract sculpture on the left and a decorative wall panel on the left.
A living room with a built-in wooden entertainment center, a large flat-screen TV, a round wooden coffee table, white cushioned chairs with black and white pillows, decorative vases, and potted plants.
Living room with a window view, modern furniture including chairs, a sofa, and decorative vases, with sunlight illuminating the space.
Open-concept kitchen and living room with modern decor, beige couch, dining table with six chairs, stainless steel refrigerator, built-in microwave, and abstract wall art.
Modern living room with beige sofas, a wooden coffee table, a flat-screen TV on a white wooden cabinet, large windows with a city and mountain view, artwork on the wall, a large plant, and a colorful rug.