Where is Starfleet Headquarters?

[Lakenheath 72]

For the people who responded to my thread about San Francisco, thank you. I have another query. Where is Starfleet Headquarters? I know the film says San Francisco; however, looking at the visual evidence, I am baffled as to where exactly it is in the city.

At the beginning of the film, before Jim and Spock arrive at Pike's office, there is the first visual evidence -

Admiral Pike Chews Out Kirk and Spock

At 0:04, there is the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance. The bridge is seen from the side.

After the attack on the Daystrom Conference Room, there is the second visual evidence -

Aftermath of Khan's Attack

At 0:05, there is the GGB in the distance. The upper half of the first suspension tower is seen "head-on".

Finally, near the attack site, we have a third visual evidence. From the same video, it's at 0:32. The GGB is seen to the left, at an angle.

Can someone help me with this? Thanks.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Here:

(click to enlarge)

 

[Lakenheath 72]

The problem with that is that the GGB would not be visible from that location. It would be blocked by the natural and artificial geography of the city.

When I did my own study, I determined that the shot of the Daystrom Conference Building had to be in west San Francisco.

Google Map of Richmond District

I wasn't able to place Admiral Pike's office, for where he is located, people have a side view of the GGB. It could be that he is located on Treasure Island. I just don't know; I am speculating.

 

[F. King Daniel]

I remember Starfleet Academy moving in ST'09, between the scene right before Kirk's Kobayashi Maru test and when Nero starts drilling, so I gather they went for whatever looked good over a definite location.

BUT, on-screen graphics in ID put SFHQ on Second Avenue - so I go with that. I imagine it's such a large facility that it'd have buildings across San Francisco.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

The problem with that is that the GGB would not be visible from that location. It would be blocked by the natural and artificial geography of the city.

Possibilities:

1) There are coastal annexes to the HQ accessible by walkway or tunnel where you can view the Golden Gate.
2) The viewpoint is higher than the surrounding buildings.
3) There's an unobstructed/elevated view down 2nd Street from the viewpoint where you can see the GGB through the buildings.
4) The Golden Gate Bridge is only there as a visual location cue, much the same way the Eiffel Tower is visible in every TV/movie shot of Paris even if the camera is not facing in the right direction. This has been done many times before in Trek with San Francisco and Paris. The outside of SFHQ was filmed at the Getty Center in Los Angeles, so any shots of the GGB are just composited in or CGI.

Evidence in favor of Starfleet HQ being on 2nd Street:

1) The digital readout made by STiD graphical interface designer Jorge Almeida says that Starfleet HQ is on 2nd Street.
2) The kamikaze path of the Vengeance targeting Starfleet HQ, going through Alcatraz, and stopping before the Transamerica Pyramid points right at 2nd Street.
3) Other real world buildings featured in the film, like the San Fransisco Ferry Building (see map below) where Scotty visited the bar support the 2nd Street location.

Having Starfleet HQ be on 2nd Street, which was once part of the San Francisco Sanctuary District, and with the Bell Riots being such a pivotal moment in human history, makes a great deal of sense as a monument.

(click to enlarge)

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Here's a view of the Golden Gate Bridge from the Market Center towers at 575 Market Street just off 2nd that roughly fits the view from the SFHQ Towers:

 

[Nerys Myk]

It's in that mythical spot in San Francisco that all movie buildings are. There is a similar location in Paris.

 

[M'Sharak]

It's in that mythical spot in San Francisco that all movie buildings are. There is a similar location in Paris.

Also one in Seattle.

 

[Nebusj]

It's in that mythical spot in San Francisco that all movie buildings are. There is a similar location in Paris.

Also one in Seattle.

Why would you see the Eiffel Tower from Seattle?

 

[137th Gebirg]

There was an old LCARS-style map that made the rounds on Teh Interwebz many years ago that showed how everything looked in San Fran including SFHQ, the Academy, etc., although I cannot speak to its authenticity or provenance. I used to have it but I think it got corrupted during one of the many times when ImageShack tried to swallow its own face. I'll try to dig it up out of my archives and repost it now that I'm on PhotoBucket. It's been a really long time...

 

[F. King Daniel]

Of related note, here's an article on EAS showing how Starfleet HQ and the Academy have moved around San Francisco over the decades. http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/inconsistencies/starfleet_buildings.htm

 

[T'Girl]

Also one in Seattle.

South side of Queen Anne Hill, it's where they put Fraser Crane's condo building.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

There was an old LCARS-style map that made the rounds on Teh Interwebz many years ago that showed how everything looked in San Fran including SFHQ, the Academy, etc., although I cannot speak to its authenticity or provenance. I used to have it but I think it got corrupted during one of the many times when ImageShack tried to swallow its own face. I'll try to dig it up out of my archives and repost it now that I'm on PhotoBucket. It's been a really long time...

It was from one of the Last Unicorn Games Trek supplements.

(click to enlarge)

 

[M'Sharak]

Also one in Seattle.

South side of Queen Anne Hill, it's where they put Fraser Crane's condo building.

Sounds about right.

 

[C.E. Evans]

Hmm. I just always figured that Starfleet HQ was scattered across San Francisco and wasn't just in one building. I think it was because I was familiar with several colleges that were set up that way (with several different campuses and offices that were located in different areas across town but were still considered the same college).

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Hmm. I just always figured that Starfleet HQ was scattered across San Francisco and wasn't just in one building. I think it was because I was familiar with several colleges that were set up that way (with several different campuses and offices that were located in different areas across town but were still considered the same college).

Well, it probably is a main complex and a bunch of smaller annexes (as is Starfleet Academy). In one shot they're on the shoreline, in another they're in the midst of a bunch of skyscrapers in downtown. I was just trying to pinpoint the main HQ towers that Khan was targeting with the suicide run.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Hmm. I just always figured that Starfleet HQ was scattered across San Francisco and wasn't just in one building. I think it was because I was familiar with several colleges that were set up that way (with several different campuses and offices that were located in different areas across town but were still considered the same college).

The entire city is Starfleet Headquarters and the Academy.

 

[The Wormhole]

Hmm. I just always figured that Starfleet HQ was scattered across San Francisco and wasn't just in one building. I think it was because I was familiar with several colleges that were set up that way (with several different campuses and offices that were located in different areas across town but were still considered the same college).

Related to that, the Pathfinder Project in Voyager seemed to be in a building that was separate from the main Starfleet Command grounds.

 

[T'Girl]

The entire city is Starfleet Headquarters and the Academy.

Throw in EarthGov while you're at it.

 

[137th Gebirg]

Finally found the map I was looking for. Dates back at least to 2004, possibly older: