Columbus Tower, Steel-framed flatiron building in North Beach, San Francisco, US
Columbus Tower is an eight-floor steel-framed building with a distinctive flatiron shape standing at the intersection of Columbus Avenue, Kearny Street, and Jackson Street in North Beach. Its facade features white tiles with green-tinted copper accents that give it a recognizable appearance.
The building was constructed starting in 1906 during the San Francisco earthquake, and its steel frame allowed construction to proceed despite the devastation around it. It was completed in 1907, making it an early example of modern steel construction that survived the disaster.
The building carries strong connections to cinema, having served as the headquarters for American Zoetrope since its purchase by filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola in 1972. This role shaped how people in the neighborhood view the place and continues to draw those interested in film and creative work.
The building sits at a busy intersection where three neighborhoods meet, making it a good reference point for exploring the surrounding areas. The ground floor has a restaurant where visitors can stop to rest and observe the intersection from inside.
The basement holds a private screening room where filmmakers and industry professionals review their work and gather for presentations. This hidden space has served as one of the city's earliest dedicated screening facilities for professional film production.
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