San Francisco is in the midst of a measured yet decisive resurgence, one that extends beyond familiar landmarks and surface charm. In the wake of the pandemic, the city has emerged with a clearer sense of purpose, guided by artists, entrepreneurs, and community builders who see potential where others saw retreat. Across its neighborhoods, forgotten spaces are being reimagined, artistic voices are telling stories of diaspora and resilience, and businesses are choosing San Francisco not as a backdrop, but as a foundation. This is not a return to what the city once was, it is the shaping of what it is becoming.
This five-part series examines the evolving identity of San Francisco through the lens of culture, architecture, and community. It looks beyond the expected to spotlight places where the spirit of reinvention is not only present but thriving.
Transamerica Pyramid as seen from Mark Twain Alley.
SHVO
One of the most compelling examples of this transformation can be found at the city’s core, within the triangular silhouette of the Transamerica Pyramid.
Completed in 1972 by architect William Pereira, the sharply faceted tower was originally designed for a network television office in New York before becoming headquarters to the Transamerica Corporation in San Francisco. For decades, it stood as the city’s tallest structure and a symbol of its commercial aspirations, until the Salesforce Tower claimed that title.
In 2020, developer Michael Shvo acquired the building for $650 million, ushering in a vision not only of preservation but of reinvention.
“When we purchased the Transamerica Pyramid in 2020, there was significant uncertainty about San Francisco’s future. Many doubted the city’s ability to rebound, especially in the office market,” said Shvo, founder and CEO of SHVO, a real estate development company. “We knew that revitalizing a landmark like the Transamerica Pyramid Center would be a catalyst for the city’s recovery.”
To lead the redesign, Shvo engaged Foster + Partners, the renowned London-based architectural practice led by Lord Norman Foster. Known for projects such as 30 St Mary Axe in London, the Hearst Tower in New York, and Berlin’s Reichstag, the firm brought a distinctly global sensibility to the task of restoring an international icon.
The building’s lobby has been completely re-conceived. Its materials and proportions evoke clarity and restraint, with a palette designed to heighten rather than distract from the structure itself. A discreet café and an architecturally curated bookstore anchor the marble reception, which is softened by floral arrangements of cherry blossoms and orchids. Once concealed structural beams have been exposed, allowing the geometry of the honeycombed ceilings and the pillars to speak honestly, inviting visitors to better understand the integrity of Pereira’s original design.
Lobby of Transamerica Pyramid.
Douglas Friedman
“We are honored to partner with the talented Lord Norman Foster and his firm Foster + Partners, who deeply understood the importance of honoring William Pereira’s original vision,” said Shvo. “Our approach was to strip the building back to its core design, exposing its structural beauty while introducing the modern amenities and hospitality-driven elements necessary for today’s workplaces,”explains Shvo.
Beyond architectural expression, the renovation re-establishes a connection with the landscape. A seamless walkway links the lobby to Redwood Park, a public green space tucked behind the building that is integral to the site’s history. Its redwood trees, transplanted from the Santa Cruz Mountains in 1974, were a condition of the building’s approval by then-Mayor Joe Alioto. What began as a development stipulation has matured into one of the city’s most distinct urban sanctuaries.
Transamerica Redwood Park situated on the other end of the lobby.
SHVO
“Redwood Park is one of San Francisco’s most unique urban green spaces, home to nearly 50 towering redwood trees,” says Shvo. “Preserving this natural sanctuary was a priority, and our upgrades were designed to enhance its beauty while maintaining its integrity.”
From March through October, the park hosts weekly performances, Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons, on a permanent outdoor stage with seating space for up to 1,000 guests. Enclosed by redwoods and buffered from the Financial District’s rhythm, the park offers rare stillness amid the urban core. New landscaping, an open seating area, and an outdoor bar further integrate the site with the adjacent North Beach neighborhood.
Currently on view throughout the park and within the building is a collection of sculptural works by Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne, Les Lalanne, marking their first outdoor exhibition in San Francisco. Their whimsical forms appear throughout the elevator foyers, at the end of mirrored corridors, and along garden paths, quietly extending the building’s ethos from workplace to cultural environment.
Adjacent to the park in an indoor gallery. The Vertical City exhibition presents architectural models of Norman Foster’s seminal works, underscoring the depth of vision behind the Pyramid’s transformation.
Transamerica Pyramid Annex.
Douglas Friedman
Public access concludes at the edge of this gallery. Entry into the upper regions of the Pyramid itself is reserved for tenants and their guests.
Access is controlled, but the experience within is expansive, a decision aligned with SHVO’s intent to cultivate a “third space”, neither home nor traditional office, but rather a place, unlike a hotel or private club, with an environment where high-level business can unfold amid luxurious sensibilities and graphic architecture that reflects the cultural depth of San Francisco.
“Our goal was to allow tenants and their guests to experience the full beauty of San Francisco while conducting business at the highest level,” Shvo noted. “To feel the power of the city and its sense of place.”
The building’s interiors are designed with this balance in mind. Amenities reflect a seamless blend of understated luxury and utility, including a state-of-the-art fitness center offering nearly panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay, Nob Hill, Chinatown and in the distance, Alcatraz. Midway up the tower, the amenity floor, where tenants switch elevators, is conceived not merely as a circulation point, but as a space of pause. Outfitted with soft, sculptural seating in neutral tones, it offers unobstructed vistas and invites both private moments and informal meetings.
Transamerica Pyramid amenity floor.
Douglas Friedman
At the summit, The Sky Bar, located on the 48th floor, provides a private lounge atmosphere, with sweeping views across the city. It is intended as a space for unwinding, entertaining, or simply watching the fog roll in above the skyline.
Transamerica Pyramid Sky Bar.
Douglas Friedman
Leases in the Transamerica Pyramid begin at $115 per square foot and can reach up to $300 per square foot on the uppermost floors, placing it among the most premium office addresses in the country, alongside Manhattan’s One Vanderbilt and 425 Park Avenue.
“Our investment in the Transamerica Pyramid Center reflects our deep belief in the future of downtown San Francisco and its people,” explains Shvo. “The Transamerica Pyramid Center has always been an emblem of San Francisco, but for decades, its connection to the public was limited. We wanted to change that when remastering this historic block. By opening up new pedestrian connections, revitalizing Redwood Park, and bringing in arts and culture programming along with new world-class F&B offerings by Chef Brad Kilgore, we’ve made the Transamerica Pyramid Center a place where people can gather, experience the city, and engage with its history in a meaningful way.”
Transamerica Pyramid exterior.
Douglas Friedman
The building’s hours of operation, along with details about the park and exhibitions can be found on their website.
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