AI Leasing Expands in Downtown San Francisco

Anthropic signs 13-year lease for all 420,000 SF at 300 Howard, signaling renewed AI-driven demand in San Francisco’s office market.

February 3, 2026

Jordan B.

AI firm Anthropic signed a 13-year lease for the full 420,000 SF at 300 Howard Street in downtown San Francisco.
The move represents one of the city’s largest office leases since 2019 as Anthropic expands its Bay Area workforce.
Anthropic now has over 2,500 employees globally and aims to strengthen its local partnerships and presence.
The lease signals renewed confidence in San Francisco’s downtown and innovation economy.

Key Takeaways

Major AI Office Commitment

SFist reports that Anthropic, a leading artificial intelligence firm, has signed a full-building lease at 300 Howard Street in San Francisco. The 27-story tower, totaling 420,000 SF, will support Anthropic’s rapid growth as it surpasses 1,300 employees in the Bay Area. This long-term commitment marks one of the largest downtown office deals in recent years and reflects ongoing investment in the city’s tech sector.

Why It Matters

Anthropic’s 13-year lease gives a major lift to San Francisco’s struggling office market. Ownership upgraded 300 Howard to attract tenants, and Anthropic’s full-building commitment turns it into the company’s main local hub. The deal strengthens San Francisco’s role as a center for AI innovation. Mayor Daniel Lurie called the lease a strong sign of renewed confidence in downtown’s recovery and the city’s global tech leadership.

Anthropic’s Growth Trajectory

Siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei founded Anthropic to build safe, responsible AI. The company emerged after internal concerns at OpenAI over AI safety. Since then, Anthropic has grown to over 2,500 employees worldwide and serves more than 300,000 business customers. Its recent research continues to influence industry discussions on risks and safety in advanced AI systems.

What’s Next

The new lease is expected to energize downtown San Francisco and support stronger ties with local businesses. As more AI firms expand, the city’s office market could see growing demand. Fast-scaling tech companies now view San Francisco as a key place to grow and hire. The move follows a recent wave of activity and speculation around the city’s broader office recovery, including major investment shifts and property repositioning.