Photographing San Francisco: Digital Field Guide

Chapter 28. Transamerica Pyramid

A view of the Transamerica Pyramid taken just before sunrise from Montgomery Street on a clear winter morning. Taken at ISO 100, f/18, 30 seconds with a 70–200mm lens.

Why It's Worth a Photograph

The Transamerica Pyramid is the most recognizable skyscraper in the San Francisco skyline. Although the building no longer is the headquarters of the Transamerica Corporation, it is still strongly associated with the company. Built on the historic Montgomery Block, it has a structural height of 853 feet and was the tallest skyscraper west of the Mississippi from 1972 to 1974. It is currently ranked as being tied for the 106th tallest building in the world. No longer the tallest building in San Francisco — that honor now belongs to the Sutro Tower at 977 feet — the Pyramid's unique structure is what draws people to it. There is no other skyscraper in the U.S. that can compare to the architectural creativity that the Transamerica Pyramid displays. The building is a tall, four-sided pyramid with two wings on opposite sides of the building. The top 212 feet of the building is the spire. Four cameras are pointed in the four cardinal directions at the top of this spire, forming a virtual observation deck. Four monitors in the lobby, whose direction and zoom can be controlled by visitors, display the cameras' views 24 hours a day. An observation deck on the 27th floor ...