Transamerica Pyramid - Revision history

Ccarlsson at 19:32, 26 November 2021

2021-11-26T19:32:47Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:32, 26 November 2021
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	[[Image:Bridge-cover final.jpg\|240px\|left]] ''Excerpted with permission from Art Peterson's book, [http://www.amazon.com/That-Bridge-Orange-Francisco-Curious/dp/0926664190/ "Why Is That Bridge Orange?"] published in 2013, by Inquiring Minds Productions.''		[[Image:Bridge-cover final.jpg\|240px\|left]] ''Excerpted with permission from Art Peterson's book, [http://www.amazon.com/That-Bridge-Orange-Francisco-Curious/dp/0926664190/ "Why Is That Bridge Orange?"] published in 2013, by Inquiring Minds Productions.''

	[[category:architecture]] [[category:buildings]] [[category:1970s]] [[category:Downtown]] [[category:2010s]]		[[category:architecture]] [[category:buildings]] [[category:1970s]] [[category:Downtown]] [[category:2010s]] [[category:Why is that Bridge Painted Orange?]]

Ccarlsson: added photo

2020-05-06T23:09:30Z

added photo

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:09, 6 May 2020
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	Those interested in observing the construction of the building can rent a copy of the 2007 film ''Zodiac'' that presents a time-lapse computer-generated version of the building as it went up between 1969 and 1971. In fact, the building has been cast in several supporting movie roles, most notably in the 1978 remake of ''Invasion of the Body Snatchers'' in which it becomes a visual motif. The Transamerica Corporation was tied to United Artists at the time, the company that made the movie, thus making the pyramid one of the most conspicuous examples of product placement in film history.		Those interested in observing the construction of the building can rent a copy of the 2007 film ''Zodiac'' that presents a time-lapse computer-generated version of the building as it went up between 1969 and 1971. In fact, the building has been cast in several supporting movie roles, most notably in the 1978 remake of ''Invasion of the Body Snatchers'' in which it becomes a visual motif. The Transamerica Corporation was tied to United Artists at the time, the company that made the movie, thus making the pyramid one of the most conspicuous examples of product placement in film history.

			[[Image:Transamerica-pyramid-under-construction.jpg]]

			'''Transamerica pyramid under construction. c. 1970.'''

			''Photo: courtesy Katherine Petrin''

	<hr>		<hr>

Ccarlsson: changed link

2018-09-07T23:48:35Z

changed link

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:48, 7 September 2018
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	''Photo: Art Peterson''		''Photo: Art Peterson''

	At the time of its completion in 1972, the Transamerica Pyramid at the [[~~The Monkey Block~~\|corner of Washington and Montgomery Streets]] had few advocates. The structure, a present-day icon almost as representative of San Francisco as the Golden Gate Bridge and the cable cars, was called “inhuman” (and that by the city’s planning director!) and an “abomination” by the ''Chronicle''’s architectural critic.		At the time of its completion in 1972, the Transamerica Pyramid at the [[From Fish-Choked Mudflat to the Pyramid\|corner of Washington and Montgomery Streets]] had few advocates. The structure, a present-day icon almost as representative of San Francisco as the Golden Gate Bridge and the cable cars, was called “inhuman” (and that by the city’s planning director!) and an “abomination” by the ''Chronicle''’s architectural critic.

	There was no question that the building was more than a little bit out of scale. The Transamerica Corporation decided that its three-story wedding cake of a structure across the street at Columbus and Montgomery—home to the Church of Scientology in 2013—was no longer in keeping with the image of the multibillion-dollar global conglomerate that it had become. It proposed a 1,000-foot-high building in an area where city zoning called for a 65-foot height limit. The architect of the structure was to be William Pereira, whose previous contribution to the San Francisco skyline had been the Fairmont Hotel annex tower—a work that by most objective standards would inspire little confidence in the architect’s aesthetic judgment.		There was no question that the building was more than a little bit out of scale. The Transamerica Corporation decided that its three-story wedding cake of a structure across the street at Columbus and Montgomery—home to the Church of Scientology in 2013—was no longer in keeping with the image of the multibillion-dollar global conglomerate that it had become. It proposed a 1,000-foot-high building in an area where city zoning called for a 65-foot height limit. The architect of the structure was to be William Pereira, whose previous contribution to the San Francisco skyline had been the Fairmont Hotel annex tower—a work that by most objective standards would inspire little confidence in the architect’s aesthetic judgment.

Ccarlsson at 21:56, 1 June 2018

2018-06-01T21:56:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:56, 1 June 2018
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	''by Art Peterson''		''by Art Peterson''

	[[Image:Transamerica.jpg\|400px~~\|thumb~~\|right\|Transamerica Pyramid, 2013; ''Photo: Art Peterson'']] At the time of its completion in 1972, the Transamerica Pyramid at the [[The Monkey Block\|corner of Washington and Montgomery Streets]] had few advocates. The structure, a present-day icon almost as representative of San Francisco as the Golden Gate Bridge and the cable cars, was called “inhuman” (and that by the city’s planning director!) and an “abomination” by the ''Chronicle''’s architectural critic.		[[Image:Transamerica.jpg\|400px\|right]]

			'''Transamerica Pyramid, 2013'''

			''Photo: Art Peterson''

			At the time of its completion in 1972, the Transamerica Pyramid at the [[The Monkey Block\|corner of Washington and Montgomery Streets]] had few advocates. The structure, a present-day icon almost as representative of San Francisco as the Golden Gate Bridge and the cable cars, was called “inhuman” (and that by the city’s planning director!) and an “abomination” by the ''Chronicle''’s architectural critic.

	There was no question that the building was more than a little bit out of scale. The Transamerica Corporation decided that its three-story wedding cake of a structure across the street at Columbus and Montgomery—home to the Church of Scientology in 2013—was no longer in keeping with the image of the multibillion-dollar global conglomerate that it had become. It proposed a 1,000-foot-high building in an area where city zoning called for a 65-foot height limit. The architect of the structure was to be William Pereira, whose previous contribution to the San Francisco skyline had been the Fairmont Hotel annex tower—a work that by most objective standards would inspire little confidence in the architect’s aesthetic judgment.		There was no question that the building was more than a little bit out of scale. The Transamerica Corporation decided that its three-story wedding cake of a structure across the street at Columbus and Montgomery—home to the Church of Scientology in 2013—was no longer in keeping with the image of the multibillion-dollar global conglomerate that it had become. It proposed a 1,000-foot-high building in an area where city zoning called for a 65-foot height limit. The architect of the structure was to be William Pereira, whose previous contribution to the San Francisco skyline had been the Fairmont Hotel annex tower—a work that by most objective standards would inspire little confidence in the architect’s aesthetic judgment.

Ccarlsson at 23:11, 7 January 2014

2014-01-07T23:11:56Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:11, 7 January 2014
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	There was no question that the building was more than a little bit out of scale. The Transamerica Corporation decided that its three-story wedding cake of a structure across the street at Columbus and Montgomery—home to the Church of Scientology in 2013—was no longer in keeping with the image of the multibillion-dollar global conglomerate that it had become. It proposed a 1,000-foot-high building in an area where city zoning called for a 65-foot height limit. The architect of the structure was to be William Pereira, whose previous contribution to the San Francisco skyline had been the Fairmont Hotel annex tower—a work that by most objective standards would inspire little confidence in the architect’s aesthetic judgment.		There was no question that the building was more than a little bit out of scale. The Transamerica Corporation decided that its three-story wedding cake of a structure across the street at Columbus and Montgomery—home to the Church of Scientology in 2013—was no longer in keeping with the image of the multibillion-dollar global conglomerate that it had become. It proposed a 1,000-foot-high building in an area where city zoning called for a 65-foot height limit. The architect of the structure was to be William Pereira, whose previous contribution to the San Francisco skyline had been the Fairmont Hotel annex tower—a work that by most objective standards would inspire little confidence in the architect’s aesthetic judgment.

	The corporation, hell bent on constructing the tallest building west of the Mississippi, began a vigorous lobbying campaign, even hiring, according to Peter Booth Wiley, hippies to picket while carrying signs reading “Artists for the Pyramid.” The moving force behind the construction of the building was [[Mayor ~~Joseph~~ Alioto\|Mayor Joseph Alioto]], who liked to think of San Francisco as a European city. In his mind, the Transamerica Pyramid was to be our Eiffel Tower. A hugely successful antitrust attorney, Alioto directed his powers of persuasion toward the Planning Commission and won approval for construction of the building by a narrow vote. The city even handed over a part of Merchant Street to advance the corporation’s plan.		The corporation, hell bent on constructing the tallest building west of the Mississippi, began a vigorous lobbying campaign, even hiring, according to Peter Booth Wiley, hippies to picket while carrying signs reading “Artists for the Pyramid.” The moving force behind the construction of the building was [[Mayor Joe Alioto\|Mayor Joseph Alioto]], who liked to think of San Francisco as a European city. In his mind, the Transamerica Pyramid was to be our Eiffel Tower. A hugely successful antitrust attorney, Alioto directed his powers of persuasion toward the Planning Commission and won approval for construction of the building by a narrow vote. The city even handed over a part of Merchant Street to advance the corporation’s plan.

	The eventual size and shape of the building was the result of push and pull compromises. In response to community pressure, the height of the building was reduced to 853 feet, the top 211 feet of which was to be an uninhabited aluminum spire. The triangular shape of the building was, it was hoped, both a way of reducing the potential shadow cast by a blockbuster building and cutting back on the square footage to bring it closer into compliance with the city’s height-to-bulk guidelines.		The eventual size and shape of the building was the result of push and pull compromises. In response to community pressure, the height of the building was reduced to 853 feet, the top 211 feet of which was to be an uninhabited aluminum spire. The triangular shape of the building was, it was hoped, both a way of reducing the potential shadow cast by a blockbuster building and cutting back on the square footage to bring it closer into compliance with the city’s height-to-bulk guidelines.

Ccarlsson: Created page with '''' Historical Essay ''' ''by Art Peterson'' [[Image:Transamerica.jpg|400px|thumb|right|Transamer...'

2014-01-07T23:10:16Z

Created page with '''' Historical Essay ''' ''by Art Peterson'' [[Image:Transamerica.jpg|400px|thumb|right|Transamer...'

New page

''' Historical Essay '''

''by Art Peterson''

[[Image:Transamerica.jpg|400px|thumb|right|Transamerica Pyramid, 2013; ''Photo: Art Peterson'']] At the time of its completion in 1972, the Transamerica Pyramid at the [[The Monkey Block|corner of Washington and Montgomery Streets]] had few advocates. The structure, a present-day icon almost as representative of San Francisco as the Golden Gate Bridge and the cable cars, was called “inhuman” (and that by the city’s planning director!) and an “abomination” by the ''Chronicle''’s architectural critic.

There was no question that the building was more than a little bit out of scale. The Transamerica Corporation decided that its three-story wedding cake of a structure across the street at Columbus and Montgomery—home to the Church of Scientology in 2013—was no longer in keeping with the image of the multibillion-dollar global conglomerate that it had become. It proposed a 1,000-foot-high building in an area where city zoning called for a 65-foot height limit. The architect of the structure was to be William Pereira, whose previous contribution to the San Francisco skyline had been the Fairmont Hotel annex tower—a work that by most objective standards would inspire little confidence in the architect’s aesthetic judgment.

The corporation, hell bent on constructing the tallest building west of the Mississippi, began a vigorous lobbying campaign, even hiring, according to Peter Booth Wiley, hippies to picket while carrying signs reading “Artists for the Pyramid.” The moving force behind the construction of the building was [[Mayor Joseph Alioto|Mayor Joseph Alioto]], who liked to think of San Francisco as a European city. In his mind, the Transamerica Pyramid was to be our Eiffel Tower. A hugely successful antitrust attorney, Alioto directed his powers of persuasion toward the Planning Commission and won approval for construction of the building by a narrow vote. The city even handed over a part of Merchant Street to advance the corporation’s plan.

The eventual size and shape of the building was the result of push and pull compromises. In response to community pressure, the height of the building was reduced to 853 feet, the top 211 feet of which was to be an uninhabited aluminum spire. The triangular shape of the building was, it was hoped, both a way of reducing the potential shadow cast by a blockbuster building and cutting back on the square footage to bring it closer into compliance with the city’s height-to-bulk guidelines.

Those interested in observing the construction of the building can rent a copy of the 2007 film ''Zodiac'' that presents a time-lapse computer-generated version of the building as it went up between 1969 and 1971. In fact, the building has been cast in several supporting movie roles, most notably in the 1978 remake of ''Invasion of the Body Snatchers'' in which it becomes a visual motif. The Transamerica Corporation was tied to United Artists at the time, the company that made the movie, thus making the pyramid one of the most conspicuous examples of product placement in film history.

<hr>

[[Image:Bridge-cover final.jpg|240px|left]] ''Excerpted with permission from Art Peterson's book, [http://www.amazon.com/That-Bridge-Orange-Francisco-Curious/dp/0926664190/ "Why Is That Bridge Orange?"] published in 2013, by Inquiring Minds Productions.''

[[category:architecture]] [[category:buildings]] [[category:1970s]] [[category:Downtown]] [[category:2010s]]