Transamerica Pyramid

Transamerica Pyramid, skyscraper in San Francisco that was designed by architect William Pereira and completed in 1972. It served as the headquarters of the Transamerica Corporation until 1999.

Considered a San Francisco landmark, the Transamerica Pyramid was originally a building of much ridicule and protest. In 1969, when Pereira presented plans for the new skyscraper, his unconventional design was met with a broad mixture of enthusiasm and condemnation.

Pereira, a Los Angeles architect known for movie-set designs and futuristic buildings, had headed the team that designed the Theme Building for Los Angeles International Airport, an iconic 1960s building resembling a flying saucer. The overall form of the Transamerica Pyramid is in the shape of a slender, gently tapering pyramid with two “wings” flanking the upper levels to allow for vertical circulation. The facade is clad in white, precast, quartz-aggregate panels. At 853 feet (260 meters) tall, it was the tallest building in San Francisco at the time of its completion. It has more than 3,000 windows and a concrete-and-steel foundation that reaches 52 feet (16 meters) below street level to make the skyscraper earthquake-resistant. The base of the building flanks Redwood Park, which offers a lush, serene oasis where San Franciscans can escape the city’s bustle.

The building’s form was conceptually based on tall redwood and sequoia trees, which are native to the area. The trees’ conical form allows light to filter down to the forest floor. Similarly, the Transamerica Pyramid allows greater light to reach street level. Advocates maintained its narrow design would also allow for greater unobstructed premium views around the San Francisco Bay than a traditional tower. Critics claimed the skyscraper was a threat to the integrity of the city and would negatively transform the urban fabric. It took up a full city block and required the city to sell an alley in the middle of the block to the Transamerica Corporation. A main point of contention centered on this sale of public space to a private entity. Despite early opposition, the public gradually warmed, and today it is one of the city’s best-known buildings. In 2022, architect Norman Foster was hired to undertake a renovation project of the building.