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.
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