345 California Center

345 California Center is a 48-story office building at the intersection of California and Battery Streets, featuring a granite-clad exterior with extensive glass panels. The structure rises 725 feet (221 meters) above this busy financial area and defines the skyline with its contemporary profile.

The tower was designed by Skidmore Owings Merrill and completed in 1986 during San Francisco's period of rapid vertical expansion. This era saw the city transform its commercial district through the construction of modern office towers.

The building displays five types of imported granite across its exterior and plaza, reflecting how international materials shaped San Francisco's commercial architecture. These stone varieties give the space a cosmopolitan character that many visitors notice while walking through the lobby.

The main entrance on Battery Street offers direct access to public transit, with subway stations located nearby. The building features modern elevators and underground parking, making arrival and navigation straightforward.

The building features a 30-foot (9-meter) vaulted arcade running through the lobby that connects Battery and Sansome Streets. This public passage creates a surprising pedestrian shortcut that many people use without realizing it is part of a private office building.

Location: San Francisco

Inception: 1986

Architects: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Official opening: 1986

Floors above the ground: 48

Elevators: 12

Address: California Street, San Francisco, CA, United States

GPS coordinates: 37.79254,-122.40043

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:42