Latest news with #MichaelShvo
Hypebeast
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
The Eames Institute Unveils First-Ever Public Installation Ahead of San Fransisco Design Week
The Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosityhas partnered with SHVO and the Transamerica Pyramid Center to unveil its first-ever public installation outside of the Eames Archive during San Francisco Design Week. Past as Prologue highlightsRayandCharles Eames' seminal works, created between 1968 and 1978, the final decade of their close collaboration. The period in focus coincides with the timeframe of the iconic Transamerica Pyramid Center's completion, which was furnished with various original Eames pieces in its offices. Michael Shvo, Chairman and CEO of SHVO shared, 'Like the Eameses innovations, the Transamerica Pyramid was a design ahead of its time when it opened in 1972.' Marked by an ethos of continuous refinement rather than disruptive reinvention, the Eameses spent the decade optimizing their designs for durability and modularity asHerman MillerandVitrashifted focus toward contract office markets. On a material level, the Eameses' palette evolved from mainly plywood and fiberglass to injection-molded plastics and polyurethane. On a formal level, ergonomic comfort became increasingly important as the nature of work transformed. While showing present-day classics, like their ubiquitous shell chairs and leather loungers, the collection also includes designs that the public has rarely witnessed. Llisa Demetrios, granddaughter of the Eameses and chief curator, said, 'As an often overlooked era of my grandparents' designs, it felt imperative to uncover some ephemera that isn't always highlighted, hence choosing some of their lesser-known pieces.' 'It was exhilarating bringing out pieces that were created within my lifetime, I'm happy to bring each of these to light in a new way through this exhibit.' In addition to the special exhibition, the newly renovated Transamerica Pyramid Center will host a program of events honoring the California city's storied design legacy. Past as Prologuewill open to the public at the Transamerica Pyramid Center on June 7. Visit the officialEames Institute eventspage for more details.
Fast Company
15-05-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
An unearthed time capsule beneath the Transamerica Pyramid shows a glimpse of San Francisco's past
Like other famous structures of similar dimensions, the 48-story Transamerica Pyramid, a revolutionary '70s modernist skyscraper and San Francisco icon, has a bit of history buried beneath its ground floor. A recently unearthed time capsule, buried in 1974 and discovered during a recent round of renovations, offers a picture of San Francisco's past. The site of the structure—then a parking lot—was initially part of the original shoreline of the city that reeked of historical significance, from the city's growth as a shipping and banking capital. The capsule even contains a recipe for Pisco Punch, a cocktail that was invented at the nearby Bank Exchange Saloon, site of the city's original stock exchange. Part of an exhibit in the building lobby opening May 18, the time capsule's contents are timeless: pictures of the building's steel frame beginning to stretch skyward, or vintage news clippings and images of the city after its last '60s flowering. But within the cylindrical steel capsule, which looks a bit like a large propane tank, there's also a narrative about building in America, and how that's radically changed in the last 50 years. The battle over the permitting and construction of the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco from 1969 to 1972 offers a flashback to a different time in development, real estate, and construction. The tower was proposed and built in just three years, a sprint compared to the time it takes today to build a signature part of a city skyline. Construction alone for the One World Trade in New York City took eight years; the Comcast Tech Center in Philadelphia, which had issues with cracks in some of the steel frame, took five years; and the St. Regis in Chicago took four years. An analysis of high-rise buildings by Construction Physics found building speeds decreased significantly over the past century, in many cases extending the time it takes to finish by roughly 50%. Buildings are more complex and require more permitting today, including complicated environmental review processes. This time-consuming process of development has led to backlash against what opponents call stifling building regulations. It has also led to more engagement from architects around code reform issues including elevator rules and exit stairs, and the formation of the abundance agenda, a center-left push by pundits like Ezra Klein to get the nation building fast again. 'The pace of the approval and the construction here is unbelievable,' says developer Michael Shvo, who paid $650 million to acquire the Transamerica Pyramid in 2020, at the depths of the COVID office freeze.. 'The Mayor was very determined to get this thing approved, and Transamerica was very determined to get a building built, and with all the controversy, once they got the green light, they ran as fast as possible. They built it in two years, we couldn't do that today.' A more humane debate Transamerica was then a massive business conglomerate with interests in banking, financial services, and insurance. According to former public relations staffer John Krizek, who worked for Transamerica during the pyramid's construction and ultimately created the time capsule, the back-and-forth between protestors and developers at the time was more humane, more respectable, and more amusing. The conversation around the Transamerica Pyramid was, at the time, a larger debate about images, architecture, and aesthetics. The tower was not just a unique shape, but would tower above the skyline. It was to be the city's tallest building, and wouldn't be surpassed until 2018's Salesforce Tower. Artists and community members protested the building for aesthetic reasons, and general distrust of large corporations. Posters passed around the city at the time proclaimed 'San Francisco Gets the Shaft' or 'Artists Against the Icicle.' The city's then planning director called the pyramid, designed by architect William Pereira, 'inhumane.' During early street protests in front of the company's office, Transamerica execs sent secretaries to bring ice tea to the protestors lining up outside. During another protest, Krizek and his colleagues printed up fake fortune cookies at a nearby Chinatown bakery, frantically stuffing messages like 'Transamerica–Not a square outfit' or 'People who protest pyramid seek Che-ops publicity.' Krizek recalled that the company was determined to break ground in December 1969. The building plan was announced in January of that year, and there was a tax break worth approximately $750,000 expiring at the end of December. Since Krizek and his coworkers knew that as soon as the company was given approval to build, there would be an appeal, they planned to move fast and break ground before paperwork was filed. To head off any challenges, they staged a tractor and truck near the site and sent someone to pick up the approval during the midday lunch break; they were able to get a time-stamped photo of someone digging at site while those opposing the project saw their appeal delayed as staffer enjoyed their lunch. 'The emotions around this building, I've never seen this for any other building in the world,' says Shvo. 'The debates today are more practical; this structure will block my view or cast a shadow. You can't say that about this building, it was a pyramid designed to let the light down to the street level. It didn't block views, the only thing people could complain about was this idea of the Manhattanization of San Francisco.' Originally, Pereira's design was meant for a new building for ABC in New York City. The network passed on the project, deeming the design too futuristic, and went with another architect's vision. Today, the Transamerica Pyramid stands as an icon in San Francisco, with 80% of the space leased in a challenging office market. The building ABC picked instead? It's since been demolished.
Business Wire
14-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
SHVO Unveils Transamerica Pyramid Time Capsule Exhibition
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, SHVO celebrated the new Time Capsule Exhibition at Transamerica Pyramid Center (TAPC), a captivating glimpse into a past era of San Francisco. Discovered and unearthed during the recently completed remastering of TAPC by renowned architect Lord Norman Foster, the cylindrical steel capsule contained a plethora of mementos collected during the Transamerica Pyramid's development and items marking the site's historical significance. Visitors will now have the opportunity to delve into these rare artifacts, untouched and preserved for more than 50 years. The Time Capsule Exhibition is curated in partnership with Foster + Partners, and will open to the public on May 18. Today's ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by government officials, local leaders and innovators, SHVO leadership and other notable San Franciscans. The exclusive event featured a conversation between SHVO Chairman and CEO, Michael Shvo and John Krizek, the former Transamerica Corporation employee who originally conceptualized the time capsule. The conversation was moderated by esteemed author and architecture critic Paul Goldberger. 'Through moments of prosperity and periods of challenge, the Transamerica Pyramid has stood tall as one of the iconic silhouettes of San Francisco's skyline. I see it now not just as a symbol of bold design, but of resilience—for this neighborhood, and for our city,' said Mayor Daniel Lurie. 'Thanks to leaders like Michael Shvo we are seeing downtown come back to life with new energy and new investment. Fifty years from now, my hope is that we will look back on this era—this exact moment in time—as the beginning of a new chapter for San Francisco.' 'This exhibition serves as a reminder of the significance of the Transamerica Pyramid as a global icon since its inception more than a half century ago,' said Michael Shvo, Chairman and CEO of SHVO. 'Preserving the history and respecting the original vision of the property has always been a priority throughout our remastering. The Transamerica Pyramid is one of the world's most recognizable buildings, and we understood we had a responsibility to ensure it remains a global icon for decades to come. By sharing the contents of the time capsule publicly, as a thoughtfully designed exhibition, we are honoring Transamerica Pyramid's legacy and seamlessly complementing our meticulous remastering.' The Transamerica Pyramid's opening in 1972 was highly anticipated by the local media and community, seen as a symbol of the growth of the City and its businesses. The innovative building was designed with earthquake-resistant structural steel and was well-documented by the industry. It was also the first in the City to be fully equipped with fire sprinklers. After the Transamerica Corporation moved into its new headquarters, they gathered items for the time capsule and later marked the burial with a celebratory event in 1974. The time capsule – measuring 14 inches in diameter and 16 inches in height – was sealed shut and buried six feet beneath the Annex with a plaque instructing it to remain untouched for 50 years. Over time, renovations led to the plaque's removal, and the capsule was forgotten. In 2024, a tip based on a treasure hunt book led to a rediscovery, and an old map helped the SHVO team locate the capsule intact. 'We were just trying to save history,' said John Krizek, who served as public relations manager for the Transamerica Corporation, partnering with the California Historical Society to assemble all the items placed in the capsule. 'We were keenly aware of the site's history and we wanted to document the process of building the pyramid and the controversy that surrounded it, as well as pay homage to its history. The site was originally the waterfront of San Francisco during the 1849 Gold Rush and was later occupied for a century by the Montgomery Block, a legendary building that hosted all the early civic and political leaders, and later the artists and writers, who made San Francisco the centerpoint of the West.' When the design for the Transamerica Pyramid by renowned architect William Pereira was proposed, it was well received by the City and the business community, but divided public opinion. Opponents worried about its impact on the character and skyline of the City and many residents protested. The Transamerica Corporation received letters written directly to them, some supporting the bold design while others denounced their corporate ego. Many of these were preserved in the time capsule. Other items on display include newspaper clippings, letters, Polaroids, advertisements, leasing brochures, videos, radio spots and even the recipe for the Pisco Punch - the city's signature cocktail that was invented at the original Bank Exchange Saloon, located on the TAPC site. A signed letter from then-Mayor Joseph L. Alito was also sealed inside, marking the occasion and making the prediction, 'It is certainly my belief that when the time capsule is opened at some far future date, it will be noted that the beautiful Pyramid was a treasure of its time and an inspiration to the people who lived and worked beneath its towering height.' Located on the northern edge of San Francisco's Financial District in the heart of Jackson Square, Transamerica Pyramid Center, which encompasses Two and Three Transamerica and Transamerica Redwood Park, celebrated its official reopening on September 12, 2024. Led by Lord Norman Foster, the extensive remastering of the Transamerica Pyramid embodies a hotel-like aesthetic that welcomes tenants and guests with luxurious private amenities and expanded public spaces, including Transamerica Redwood Park, an urban oasis in the heart of the city. Its revitalization now draws thousands of visitors each week, reinforcing the revival of San Francisco's downtown. The exhibit comes on the heels of The Vertical City, an exploration of tall buildings by Norman Foster and Foster + Partners, extended through May of this year due to popular demand. These exhibits are part of SHVO's Pyramid Arts, a new series of public exhibitions celebrating innovation and creativity across the arts and sciences including Pyramid Dreams, which showcases artwork by San Francisco schoolchildren inspired by the Transamerica Pyramid and Les Lalanne, an outdoor sculpture garden by the renowned French artists Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne. Exhibition Details: Location: The Annex at Transamerica Pyramid Center (entrance on Washington Street) Hours: Daily 10am to 5pm ABOUT SHVO SHVO is a luxury real estate development and investment firm built on the vision of Chairman & CEO Michael Shvo to create culture-defining experiences in iconic properties. Headquartered in New York City with offices in Miami, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Chicago, SHVO owns and operates a national portfolio valued at more than $8 billion and 4.5 million square feet across commercial office and retail space, hospitality, and luxury residential assets. The firm's selective portfolio of architecturally significant properties, from innovative ground up new developments to revitalized landmarks that define skylines in the world's leading cities, includes the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco, The Raleigh Hotel in Miami Beach, The Red in Chicago, Mandarin Oriental Residences Fifth Avenue in New York City, Mandarin Oriental Residences at 9200 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills and the AMAN New York Hotel and Residences at the Crown building. Renowned for its expertise, SHVO is fully integrated with highly diversified industry experience in every aspect of acquisitions, finance, development, design, sales, leasing, property management, hospitality, and sustainability. ABOUT TRANSAMERICA PYRAMID CENTER The Transamerica Pyramid opened in 1972 at 600 Montgomery Street, long known as the 'Wall Street of the West' and the gateway to San Francisco's Financial District. The quartz-studded concrete tower has over 3,000 windows, rises 853 feet, and was designed by William L. Pereira & Associates, the famed firm that helped pioneer California's distinctive modernism in the second half of the 20th century. It is currently the tallest pyramid structure on the planet. The Transamerica Pyramid Center covers an entire city block and includes three buildings totaling approximately 750,000 square feet – the iconic pyramid-shaped tower, the office building at Two Transamerica, and a site set for approximately 100,000 square feet of office redevelopment at Three Transamerica. Anchoring the three buildings is Transamerica Redwood Park, an urban oasis featuring a grove of mature redwood trees shading public open space. Transamerica Pyramid Center reopened in September 2024 following a $1 billion dollar investment by SHVO and Deutsche Finance in partnership with Lord Norman Foster and his global design firm Foster + Partners. SHVO and Deutsche Finance America acquired the building in 2020 for $650 million, representing the building's first sale in its history and the United States' largest commercial transaction to occur amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SHVO Unveils Transamerica Pyramid Time Capsule Exhibition
After uncovering a time capsule from 1974, SHVO reveals a curated public presentation of its contents, a glimpse into San Francisco's history SAN FRANCISCO, May 14, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, SHVO celebrated the new Time Capsule Exhibition at Transamerica Pyramid Center (TAPC), a captivating glimpse into a past era of San Francisco. Discovered and unearthed during the recently completed remastering of TAPC by renowned architect Lord Norman Foster, the cylindrical steel capsule contained a plethora of mementos collected during the Transamerica Pyramid's development and items marking the site's historical significance. Visitors will now have the opportunity to delve into these rare artifacts, untouched and preserved for more than 50 years. The Time Capsule Exhibition is curated in partnership with Foster + Partners, and will open to the public on May 18. Today's ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by government officials, local leaders and innovators, SHVO leadership and other notable San Franciscans. The exclusive event featured a conversation between SHVO Chairman and CEO, Michael Shvo and John Krizek, the former Transamerica Corporation employee who originally conceptualized the time capsule. The conversation was moderated by esteemed author and architecture critic Paul Goldberger. "Through moments of prosperity and periods of challenge, the Transamerica Pyramid has stood tall as one of the iconic silhouettes of San Francisco's skyline. I see it now not just as a symbol of bold design, but of resilience—for this neighborhood, and for our city," said Mayor Daniel Lurie. "Thanks to leaders like Michael Shvo we are seeing downtown come back to life with new energy and new investment. Fifty years from now, my hope is that we will look back on this era—this exact moment in time—as the beginning of a new chapter for San Francisco." "This exhibition serves as a reminder of the significance of the Transamerica Pyramid as a global icon since its inception more than a half century ago," said Michael Shvo, Chairman and CEO of SHVO. "Preserving the history and respecting the original vision of the property has always been a priority throughout our remastering. The Transamerica Pyramid is one of the world's most recognizable buildings, and we understood we had a responsibility to ensure it remains a global icon for decades to come. By sharing the contents of the time capsule publicly, as a thoughtfully designed exhibition, we are honoring Transamerica Pyramid's legacy and seamlessly complementing our meticulous remastering." The Transamerica Pyramid's opening in 1972 was highly anticipated by the local media and community, seen as a symbol of the growth of the City and its businesses. The innovative building was designed with earthquake-resistant structural steel and was well-documented by the industry. It was also the first in the City to be fully equipped with fire sprinklers. After the Transamerica Corporation moved into its new headquarters, they gathered items for the time capsule and later marked the burial with a celebratory event in 1974. The time capsule – measuring 14 inches in diameter and 16 inches in height – was sealed shut and buried six feet beneath the Annex with a plaque instructing it to remain untouched for 50 years. Over time, renovations led to the plaque's removal, and the capsule was forgotten. In 2024, a tip based on a treasure hunt book led to a rediscovery, and an old map helped the SHVO team locate the capsule intact. "We were just trying to save history," said John Krizek, who served as public relations manager for the Transamerica Corporation, partnering with the California Historical Society to assemble all the items placed in the capsule. "We were keenly aware of the site's history and we wanted to document the process of building the pyramid and the controversy that surrounded it, as well as pay homage to its history. The site was originally the waterfront of San Francisco during the 1849 Gold Rush and was later occupied for a century by the Montgomery Block, a legendary building that hosted all the early civic and political leaders, and later the artists and writers, who made San Francisco the centerpoint of the West." When the design for the Transamerica Pyramid by renowned architect William Pereira was proposed, it was well received by the City and the business community, but divided public opinion. Opponents worried about its impact on the character and skyline of the City and many residents protested. The Transamerica Corporation received letters written directly to them, some supporting the bold design while others denounced their corporate ego. Many of these were preserved in the time capsule. Other items on display include newspaper clippings, letters, Polaroids, advertisements, leasing brochures, videos, radio spots and even the recipe for the Pisco Punch - the city's signature cocktail that was invented at the original Bank Exchange Saloon, located on the TAPC site. A signed letter from then-Mayor Joseph L. Alito was also sealed inside, marking the occasion and making the prediction, "It is certainly my belief that when the time capsule is opened at some far future date, it will be noted that the beautiful Pyramid was a treasure of its time and an inspiration to the people who lived and worked beneath its towering height." Located on the northern edge of San Francisco's Financial District in the heart of Jackson Square, Transamerica Pyramid Center, which encompasses Two and Three Transamerica and Transamerica Redwood Park, celebrated its official reopening on September 12, 2024. Led by Lord Norman Foster, the extensive remastering of the Transamerica Pyramid embodies a hotel-like aesthetic that welcomes tenants and guests with luxurious private amenities and expanded public spaces, including Transamerica Redwood Park, an urban oasis in the heart of the city. Its revitalization now draws thousands of visitors each week, reinforcing the revival of San Francisco's downtown. The exhibit comes on the heels of The Vertical City, an exploration of tall buildings by Norman Foster and Foster + Partners, extended through May of this year due to popular demand. These exhibits are part of SHVO's Pyramid Arts, a new series of public exhibitions celebrating innovation and creativity across the arts and sciences including Pyramid Dreams, which showcases artwork by San Francisco schoolchildren inspired by the Transamerica Pyramid and Les Lalanne, an outdoor sculpture garden by the renowned French artists Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne. Exhibition Details: Location: The Annex at Transamerica Pyramid Center (entrance on Washington Street) Dates: Beginning Sunday, May 18, 2025 Hours: Daily 10am to 5pm ABOUT SHVO SHVO is a luxury real estate development and investment firm built on the vision of Chairman & CEO Michael Shvo to create culture-defining experiences in iconic properties. Headquartered in New York City with offices in Miami, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Chicago, SHVO owns and operates a national portfolio valued at more than $8 billion and 4.5 million square feet across commercial office and retail space, hospitality, and luxury residential assets. The firm's selective portfolio of architecturally significant properties, from innovative ground up new developments to revitalized landmarks that define skylines in the world's leading cities, includes the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco, The Raleigh Hotel in Miami Beach, The Red in Chicago, Mandarin Oriental Residences Fifth Avenue in New York City, Mandarin Oriental Residences at 9200 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills and the AMAN New York Hotel and Residences at the Crown building. Renowned for its expertise, SHVO is fully integrated with highly diversified industry experience in every aspect of acquisitions, finance, development, design, sales, leasing, property management, hospitality, and sustainability. ABOUT TRANSAMERICA PYRAMID CENTER The Transamerica Pyramid opened in 1972 at 600 Montgomery Street, long known as the "Wall Street of the West" and the gateway to San Francisco's Financial District. The quartz-studded concrete tower has over 3,000 windows, rises 853 feet, and was designed by William L. Pereira & Associates, the famed firm that helped pioneer California's distinctive modernism in the second half of the 20th century. It is currently the tallest pyramid structure on the planet. The Transamerica Pyramid Center covers an entire city block and includes three buildings totaling approximately 750,000 square feet – the iconic pyramid-shaped tower, the office building at Two Transamerica, and a site set for approximately 100,000 square feet of office redevelopment at Three Transamerica. Anchoring the three buildings is Transamerica Redwood Park, an urban oasis featuring a grove of mature redwood trees shading public open space. Transamerica Pyramid Center reopened in September 2024 following a $1 billion dollar investment by SHVO and Deutsche Finance in partnership with Lord Norman Foster and his global design firm Foster + Partners. SHVO and Deutsche Finance America acquired the building in 2020 for $650 million, representing the building's first sale in its history and the United States' largest commercial transaction to occur amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. View source version on Contacts Erin Holin, Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
