Address
600 Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94111
Year Constructed
1972
Structural Engineering Firm(s)
  • Chin & Hensolt
Structural Engineer(s)
Architect(s)
William Pereira
Main Contractor
Dinwiddie Construction
Media
Transamerica Pyramid
Transamerica Pyramid
Source; Daniel Schwen
Transamerica Pyramid at Dusk
Transamerica Pyramid at Dusk
Source: Thomas Hawk
Significance to Structural Engineering History in Northern California

Despite initial critical response to its architectural form when it first opened, the Transmerica Pyramid building has become the signature building on the San Francisco skyline with its distinct features and has only recently been eclipsed as the tallest building in San Francisco.

Structure Description

The Transamerica Pyramid building is a steel moment frame structure. It is 48 stories and stands 853 feet tall. At the time of completion, the Transamerica Pyramid was the eighth tallest building in the world and was the tallest skyscraper west of Chicago until 1974. The two “wings” on the tower are the elevator shafts leading to the top levels.

Awards
  • BOMA Outstanding Building of the Year SF Bay Area (2010)
  • USGBC LEED Platinum Certified (2011)
Interesting Facts
  • The windows are designed to pivot 360 degrees so they can be washed from the inside.
External Links