Inside the multi-million-dollar condos of San Francisco's newly-opened $850 million residential tower

san francisco housing market 181 fremont36

The newest member of San Francisco's iconic skyline is officially open for use.

The new tower opened on Thursday and is notable because it houses one commercial tenant, Facebook, and 55 multi-million-dollar residences. This includes a five-bedroom $42 million penthouse. And despite the steep price tag, these condos are expected to sell fast. The first slew of residents will be moving in within a matter of weeks.

Construction on the mixed-use tower at 181 Fremont began in 2013. It can be spotted in the skyline by its striking spire and encasement of beams criss crossing along the exterior, designed to act as shock absorbers in the event of an earthquake.

The developers and designers behind the high rise set out to make the establishment the embodiment of state-of-the-art luxury living and world-class engineering.

Business Insider toured two of its model residences designed by renowned designers Orlando Diaz-Azcuy and Charles de Lisle and the Sky Lounge exclusive to residents, as well as captured the panoramic views of the sprawling city of San Francisco afforded to the building's occupants. Take a look at what it's like inside.

Say hello to the tallest residential tower west of the Mississippi River.

Those zig-zagged beams you see comprise an aluminum exoskeleton that serves as the building's foundation, acting as giant shock absorbers essentially, improving its survival odds in the case of an earthquake. The elevators are actually designed as an emergency evacuation route.

“We joke that if there is a seismic event, people would run into the building," said Matt Dietsch, senior director of developments at The Mark Company, which provided sales and marketing services for the establishment.