Latest news with #TransamericaCorporation
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
Forbes
26-03-2025
- Business
- Forbes
San Francisco's Comeback: Five Places You Don't Want To Miss
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, culinary 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. One of the most compelling examples of this transformation can be found at the city's core, within the sharpened 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 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 plainly, inviting visitors to better understand the integrity of Pereira's original design. Lobby of Transamerica Pyramid. '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.' 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. '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. 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, and Chinatown. 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. 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. 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. The building's hours of operation, along with details about the park and exhibitions can be found on their website.
