Transamerica Pyramid Time Capsule Gallery Open To Public

Last week, Michael Shvo showed up to his newly reopened skyscraper to unveil the contents of the once-forgotten time capsule for the Transamerica Pyramid. The memorabilia from the 51-year-old container is now on display inside the Transamerica Annex, revealing a snapshot in San Francisco’s local culture and history related to the controversial addition to the skyline. The gallery is open to the public with access from Washington Street.

Transamerica Pyramid owner Michael Shvo with John Krizek at the Transamerica Time Capsule exhibit, image by author

Transamerica Pyramid Time Capsule burial in 1974, Courtesy of SHVO

Transamerica Pyramid time capsule location after being uncovered, image courtesy SHVO

The New York-based developer was joined by John Krizek, the former public relations manager for Transamerica Corporation, who helped plan the time capsule burial. The capsule had been buried six feet under the floor of the annex with a plaque in the floor to mark its location, but the plaque had been removed at an unknown time. During the press tour, Shvo said the capsule’s existence was revealed by an anonymous tip, at which point the project team learned concrete had already been poured over the location.

According to the 1974 press release written by John Krizek, the capsule included “news reports and articles on the controversy over the construction of the Pyramid, a motion picture tour of the building, complete microfilmed copies of a recent day’s issues of the Chronicle and Examiner, taped greetings from Transamerica and other officials, Polaroid pictures of the ceremony itself, and a special greeting from Mayor Joseph Alioto in which he called the Pyramid ‘A treasure of its time and an inspriation to the people who lived and worked beneath its towering heights.'” The exhibit includes all this, with the video playing on loop and a QR code to listen to an interview.

Transamerica Time Capsule Exhibition, image courtesy SHVO

Transamerica Pyramid demonstration outside the old Transamerica HQ, August 1969, image courtesy SHVO

Transamerica Pyramid flyer describing the tower as a ‘symbol of 20th century corporate arrogance’, image courtesy SHVO

The 48-story tower has served as a landmark in the city’s skyline, remaining the tallest building in the city from 1974 until the completion of the Salesforce Tower in 2018. The 853-foot-tall skyscraper was designed by William L. Pereira & Associates. The firm took inspiration from their own unbuilt proposal for the ABC Headquarters in New York City, a 77-story black-clad pyramid rising from a ziggurat-like podium.

SHVO purchased the tower from the Dutch conglomerate, Aegon NV, in 2020 for $650 million with financing from Deutsche Finance America. Renovations were designed by Foster + Partners, adding new amenities and modernizing interiors for the office space and lobby.

Transamerica Pyramid construction photo, image courtesy SHVO

Transamerica Pyramid owner Michael Shvo with John Krizek in the Transamerica Time Capsule exhibit, image by author

The Time Capsule Exhibition is curated in partnership with Foster + Partners. The exhibit is located next to the Vertical City Exhibition, a curated display with over a dozen scale models of tall buildings designed by Foster + Partners. The architectural models include a mix of existing towers, projects under construction, and even a model of the unbuilt Oceanwide Center in San Francisco.

The Transamerica Annex is accessible from Washington Street and open to the public daily from 10 AM to 5 PM.

Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail

Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates
Like YIMBY on Facebook
Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews