British firm Adjaye Associates has announced that it will serve as masterplan architect for the redevelopment of The San Francisco Shipyard neighbourhood.

The David Adjaye-led studio will work with developer FivePoint to revitalise the waterfront area in the city's Hunters Point district on the bay side.

Earmarked as one of the largest urban developments on the USA's west coast, the project will involve the construction of both housing and a commercial district.

New offices, labs, research facilities will be built among reclaimed heritage buildings and large pockets of public space and sports grounds.

"This is a project with incredible transformative potential," said Adjaye, who recently completed the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC.

Adjaye Associates will build on the work of IBI Architects, which completed the first phase of development. This second phase will be completed over the next five years .

Together with work at the nearby Candlestick Park site, the project will create 12,000 homes adjacent to more than 350 acres (142 hectares) of waterfront parks, trails and restored shoreline.

San Francisco is experiencing a wave of development after a period of stagnant architecture. Proposals by high-profile architects such as OMA, Studio Gang and Foster + Partners are set to transform its skyline and waterfront over the coming years.

Adjaye's other projects in the US include the Sugar Hill housing project in New York's Harlem and a red concrete art museum in Texas. He was recently awarded the London Design Medal, and will be part of the team to select the architect for next year's Serpentine Gallery Pavilion.