Transamerica Pyramid

"Transamerica Tower" redirects here. For the building in Baltimore, see Transamerica Tower (Baltimore).
"Transamerica Building" redirects here. For the building in Los Angeles, see AT&T Center (Los Angeles).
Transamerica Pyramid
Location within central San Francisco
Record height
Preceded by Bank of America Center
Surpassed by Salesforce Tower (2017)
General information
Status Complete
Type Commercial offices
Location 600 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, California
Coordinates 37°47′43″N 122°24′10″W / 37.7952°N 122.4028°W / 37.7952; -122.4028Coordinates: 37°47′43″N 122°24′10″W / 37.7952°N 122.4028°W / 37.7952; -122.4028
Construction started December 1969
Completed 1972
Cost US$32,000,000
Owner Transamerica Corporation
Management Cushman & Wakefield
Height
Roof 853 ft (260 m)
Top floor 695 ft (212 m)
Technical details
Floor count 48
Floor area 530,000 sq ft (49,000 m2)
Lifts/elevators 18
Design and construction
Architect William L. Pereira & Harry D. Som
Structural engineer Chin & Hensolt, Inc.
Glumac International
Simonson & Simonson
Main contractor Dinwiddie Construction Co.
References
[1][2][3][4]

The Transamerica Pyramid is the tallest skyscraper in the San Francisco skyline. The building no longer houses the headquarters of the Transamerica Corporation, which moved its U.S. headquarters to Baltimore, Maryland, but it is still associated with the company and is depicted in the company's logo. Designed by architect William Pereira and built by Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Company, at 853 ft (260 m), on completion in 1972 it was the eighth tallest building in the world.[5]

History

The Transamerica building was commissioned by Transamerica CEO John (Jack) R. Beckett, with the claim that he wished to allow light in the street below. Built on the site of the historic Montgomery Block, it has a structural height of 853 ft (260 m) and has 48 floors of retail and office space.

Construction began in 1969 and finished in 1972, and was overseen by San Francisco-based contractor Dinwiddie Construction (now Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Company). Transamerica moved its headquarters to the new building from across the street, where it had been based in a flatiron-shaped building now occupied by the Church of Scientology of San Francisco.[6]

Although the tower is no longer Transamerica Corporation headquarters, it is still associated with the company and is depicted in the company's logo. The building is evocative of San Francisco and has become one of the many symbols of the city.[7] Designed by architect William Pereira, it faced opposition during planning and construction and was sometimes referred to by detractors as "Pereira's Prick".[8] John King of the San Francisco Chronicle summed up the improved opinion of the building in 2009 as "an architectural icon of the best sort - one that fits its location and gets better with age."[9]

The Transamerica Pyramid was the tallest skyscraper west of Chicago from 1972 to 1974 surpassing the then Bank of America Center. It was surpassed by the Aon Center in Los Angeles.

The building is thought to have been the intended target of a foiled terrorist attack, involving the hijacking of airplanes as part of the Bojinka plot, which was foiled in 1995.[10]

In 1999, Transamerica was acquired by Dutch insurance company Aegon. When the non-insurance operations of Transamerica were later sold to GE Capital, Aegon retained the building as an investment.[7]


The Transamerica Pyramid has been the tallest skyscraper in San Francisco since 1972, but is expected to be surpassed by the under-construction Salesforce Tower in late 2016.[11]

Design

The land use and zoning restrictions for the parcel limited the number of square feet of office that could be built upon the lot, which sits at the north boundary of the financial district.

The building is a tall, four-sided pyramid with two "wings" to accommodate an elevator shaft on the east and a stairwell and a smoke tower on the west.[12] The top 212 feet (65 m) of the building is the spire. There are four cameras pointed in the four cardinal directions at the top of this spire forming a virtual observation deck. Four monitors in the lobby, whose direction and zoom can be controlled by visitors, display the cameras' views 24 hours a day. An observation deck on the 27th floor was closed after the September 11, 2001 attacks, and replaced by the virtual observation deck.

The top of the Transamerica Pyramid is covered with aluminum panels. During the Christmas holiday season, and on Independence Day and the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, a brightly twinkling beacon called the "Crown Jewel" is lit at the top of the pyramid.[12]

Specifications

Comparison of approximate profiles of the Transamerica Pyramid with some notable pyramidal or near-pyramidal buildings. Dotted lines indicate original heights, where data are available. In its SVG file, hover over a pyramid to highlight and click for its article.

Tenants

See also

References

External links

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