May 202011
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An iconic image for San Francisco, the Transamerica Pyramid. It was designed by architect William Pereira, and when it was first built it engendered considerable argument. You either hated it or loved it, there seemed to be no in between. Forty Eight stories or 850 feet tall, it was among the five tallest buildings in the world when it was completed in 1972. The Transamerica company was bought out by a Dutch firm, and no longer exists. The Dutch company however, still owns the building.
There are so many fascinating facts about this building.
The base of the building contains a total of 16,000 cubic yards of concrete and over 300 miles of steel rebar. The building’s foundation is 9 feet thick and was the result of a 24-hour continuous concrete pour.
The building occupies the site that was the temporary home of A.P. Giannini’s Bank of Italy after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake destroyed its office. Giannini founded Transamerica in 1928 as a holding company for his financial empire. Bank of Italy later became Bank of America.
The two vertical external extensions allow preservation of useful interior space at the upper levels. One extension is the top of elevator shafts while the other is a smoke evacuation tower for potential fires.
A small redwood grove sits beside the pyramid, and is a wonderful respite from the city. Here you can find a plaque honoring two stray dogs of the 1800’s Bummer and Lazarus.
I have to say I’m in the negative camp, but it is an iconic building, and fun to photograph. Have a fun weekend!
I don’t know why but I don’t remember this building…but I will never forget this story of Bummer and Lazarus! What a hoot!!