Transamerica Pyramid, Modernist skyscraper in Financial District, San Francisco, United States
The structure rises 853 feet (260 meters) across 48 floors, tapering from a square base to a sharp point. Two vertical wings protrude at the sides housing elevator shafts and escape stairwells, while white aluminum panels cover the exterior surfaces. A 212-foot (65-meter) spire crowns the main body.
Architect William Pereira designed the project for the Transamerica Corporation, which began construction in 1969 and finished in 1972. It held the title of tallest structure west of Chicago until the Salesforce Tower surpassed it in 2018. The company sold the building in 1999 to Aegon and relocated its headquarters to Baltimore.
The tower became a defining landmark and appears on countless postcards, films and tourist materials as an instantly recognizable symbol of San Francisco. It withstood the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake without structural damage, bolstering confidence in modern seismic engineering techniques throughout the Bay Area.
Access to the interior is restricted to tenants and their guests, but the adjacent half-acre park provides public seating and green space. Several BART and Muni lines serve the Financial District, with Montgomery Street Station located two blocks away. Virtual observation deck cameras are available online through the building's website.
Thousands of coins were embedded in the concrete foundations by workers during construction, a tradition for good fortune on high-rise building projects. The structure also contains a time capsule from 1972 sealed in the foundation, intended for opening in the 21st century.
Location: San Francisco
Inception: 1969
Architects: William Pereira
Architectural style: futurist architecture
Elevators: 18
Height: 260 m
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
Made from material: quartz
Address: 600 Montgomery Street 94111 San Francisco
Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday 11:00-17:00; Sunday 12:00-18:00
Website: http://thepyramidcenter.com
GPS coordinates: 37.79514,-122.40275
Latest update: December 1, 2025 12:20
Architecture does not have to follow straight lines and right angles. This collection presents buildings that stand out through their form: domes, spirals, tilted facades or organic structures that recall animals or plants. From Gaudí's mosaic covered works in Barcelona to the stacked concrete cubes of Habitat 67 in Montreal or the conical trulli of Alberobello, these structures demonstrate alternative approaches to construction. Some emerged from technical necessity, such as the temporary cardboard cathedral in Christchurch after the 2011 earthquake. Others are artistic statements: the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao with its titanium plates, the Dancing House in Prague or the cubist houses in Rotterdam. In Đà Lạt, the Crazy House transforms tree trunks and caves into habitable spaces, while the Atomium in Brussels represents a magnified iron crystal. These structures attract visitors but also raise questions about function and livability. The Longaberger Basket Building in Ohio takes the form of a seven story basket. The Lotus Temple in New Delhi uses concrete shells to form 27 petals. The Aldar headquarters in Abu Dhabi resembles a circular coin. These buildings expand the definition of what architecture can be.
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