San Francisco - Transamerica Pyramid

Since its completion in 1972 the Transamerica Pyramid, which can be seen from virtually everywhere in San Francisco, has become the new symbol of the city. It is situated north of the Wells Fargo Bank Building, in the middle of the financial quarter. Designed by the architect William Pereira of Los Angeles, it has 48 stories and reaches up 853ft/260m into the sky. It belongs to an insurance and finance company bearing the same name.

Unlike conventional buildings, the pyramidal tower with its lattice-like cladding, is said to be particularly resistant to earthquake. The main building, square in section, is 150ft/45m wide at the bottom and 46ft/14m wide at the topmost floor. This section is surmounted by a 150ft/45m high hollow spire illuminated from within. The sides of the pyramidal spire are clad in aluminum sheeting.

The lines of the tall spire are broken by the external lift-shafts (18 lifts) which run up the east and west sides of the building as far as the base of the spire.