A Touch of Glass: Glass in San Francisco’s Commercial Architecture
Neighborhood: Downtown
Description
Some of the best examples of modern San Franciscan architecture involve a commonly overlooked design element: glass.
It wasn’t always that way. Make do, plain-front buildings sprang up during the frenzied years of the Gold Rush and gingerbread-covered Victorians were built in the decades that followed. But in 1918 San Franciscans were awestruck when famed architect Willis Polk unveiled his elegant Hallidie Building. The building’s stark and modern glass-curtain front was both an engineering marvel and a harbinger of what was to come. Glass-shrouded buildings have taken over the skyline ever since, from the sleek skin of Financial District skyscrapers to the ornate ceilings of a Union Square landmark.
Next Tours
Schedule
Check Calendar for schedule
Notes
Tour Length: Approximately 1-1/2 to 2 hours.
This tour typically ends at the Apple Store, Union Square.
Location
242 California Street (Tadich Grill) between Battery and Front.
Please note: Private group tours required for groups of 7 or more.
