Rincon Center Rain Column

The word “rincon” means “inside corner” in Spanish.

In 1939, architect Gilbert S. Underwood, most famously known for his design of the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite, designed this Art Deco-Moderne structure for the United States Post Office.

In the 1980s the building was put up for development by the USPS.  A 23-story mixed-use building was added on the south side of the block that contains a new post office, offices, and 320 apartments.  During excavation, a number of artifacts from the long forgotten saloons, boarding houses and laundries, of the waterfront, destroyed by the 1906 Earthquake and Fire began to emerge. The most interesting items found are on display in the lobby that contains WPA murals by Anton Refregier.

Rincon Center’s focal point is the Atrium, which features murals by artist Richard Haas that depict San Francisco’s culture, science, technology and transportation. Doug Hollis’ water sculpture “Rain Column” features 55 gallons of water falling 85 feet every minute. Its total cost was $300,000.

It is almost impossible to photograph “Rain Column”  There is a ring suspended from a skylight in the ceiling. The water showers down onto the floor, here surrounded by plants.  The sound is unbelievable and the visual is spectacular.  There is an interesting photo on Doug Hollis’ website that shows the ceiling.