450 Sutter Building, San Francisco

450 Sutter Building, San Francisco

The 450 Sutter Building, constructed in 1929, is a prominent twenty-six-floor skyscraper in San Francisco, standing at a height of 105 meters (344 feet). Its remarkable architectural style combines elements of "Neo-Mayan" and Art Deco, showcasing the visionary design of architect Timothy L. Pflueger. Notably, this building's distinctive vertically faceted exterior served as an inspiration for Pietro Belluschi when he created the similarly faceted exterior of the 555 California, formerly known as the Bank of America Center, completed in 1969.

The primary occupants of the building consist of dental and medical professionals, who operate their practices within its premises. In the 1960s, Dr. Harry Benjamin, an endocrinologist and sexologist renowned for his groundbreaking clinical work with transgender individuals, established a summer practice in the building. Many of Dr. Benjamin's patients came from the nearby Tenderloin neighborhood, highlighting the building's significance within the medical community.

Notably, in the director's commentary of the influential 3D adventure game Grim Fandango, game designer Tim Schafer acknowledges the building's profound impact on the game's aesthetics. Schafer reveals that his exposure to 450 Sutter came about due to his dentist's office being situated on one of the upper floors. Inspired by the building's grandeur, Schafer incorporated its essence into the game's Department of Death, a pivotal location. Additionally, the building served as a model for the fictional "Vu Financial" commercial office tower in the 2003 Maxis video game SimCity 4, further showcasing its enduring influence across different mediums.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in San Francisco. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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450 Sutter Building on Map

Sight Name: 450 Sutter Building
Sight Location: San Francisco, USA (See walking tours in San Francisco)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark

Walking Tours in San Francisco, California

Create Your Own Walk in San Francisco

Create Your Own Walk in San Francisco

Creating your own self-guided walk in San Francisco is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Castro District Walking Tour

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Chinatown Walking Tour

Chinatown Walking Tour

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
North Beach Walking Tour

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Perhaps the most iconic landmark here is the Transamerica Pyramid, a distinctive skyscraper that has become a symbol of the city's...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
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Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.3 Km or 3.3 Miles
Fisherman's Wharf Walking Tour

Fisherman's Wharf Walking Tour

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At the...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Union Square Walking Tour

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One of the prominent landmarks in...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles

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