New permanent archway Mareas installed at Pier 27 enhances Embarcadero

The San Francisco Arts Commission and the Port of San Francisco announced Jan. 16, 2026 the completed installation of Mareas, a permanent archway by Mexican-born artist Ana Teresa Fernández sited at the James R. Herman Cruise Terminal Plaza at Pier 27. The steel and polycarbonate structure, roughly 13 feet by 27 feet, is titled Mareas, Spanish for "tides," and is designed to evoke shifting light, water-refraction effects and the movement of the Bay.

Placed where the Embarcadero promenade widens near the cruise terminal, the work functions as a visible, site-specific gateway to the waterfront. Officials framed the piece as a vibrant addition that enhances the promenade and the public experience of the Bay. Fabrication and project partners contributed to construction and installation; the agencies are responsible for integrating the work into ongoing waterfront management.

For San Francisco residents the archway alters both the aesthetic and practical contours of this stretch of the Embarcadero. As a permanent public artwork it will become part of the city’s collection of civic assets, drawing attention from tourists arriving by cruise ship as well as from commuters and neighborhood visitors who walk, bike, or ferry across the piers. The design’s emphasis on light and refraction anticipates seasonal and daily variations in Bay conditions, promising different visual effects for morning commuters, foggy afternoons, and evening light.

The installation also raises governance and stewardship considerations that follow all major public art projects. Permanent outdoor works require planned maintenance budgets, conservation schedules and clear custodial responsibility between the Arts Commission and Port. Long-term upkeep will determine whether the piece remains a durable civic amenity or becomes a deferred maintenance concern. Residents and civic groups tracking waterfront planning should expect agencies to disclose maintenance plans and any related costs in future budget cycles.

Mareas adds to a long-running effort to activate the Embarcadero with public art that frames the Bay and buffers infrastructure uses such as cruise operations. Its placement at a high-visibility plaza means it will figure in wayfinding and public programming, even if organizers have not announced specific events tied to the archway. The work represents an investment in place-making at a critical junction of tourism, transportation and everyday public life.

For people who use the waterfront, Mareas is now part of the route. The archway invites repeated visits to see how light and tides transform the piece, and the city’s stewardship choices in the months ahead will determine how well it serves as a lasting public gateway on the Embarcadero.