140 New Montgomery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 140 New Montgomery |
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![]() Northeast corner of 140 New Montgomery
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Former names |
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Alternative names |
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Record height | |
Preceded by | 225 Bush Street |
Surpassed by | Russ Building |
General information | |
Type | Mixed-use |
Architectural style | Art Deco |
Location |
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Coordinates | 37°47′13″N 122°24′00″W / 37.7868194444444°N 122.399905555556°W |
Current tenants | Yelp |
Construction started | January 1, 1924 |
Completed | 1925 |
Opened | May 30, 1925 |
Renovated | 1980s (façade) |
Cost | US$4 million (equivalent to $66.75 million in 2022) |
Owner | Pembroke Real Estate Inc. |
Height | |
Architectural | 435 feet (132.7 meters) |
Tip | 460 ft (140.2 m) |
Antenna spire | 460 ft (140.2 m) |
Roof | 435 ft (132.6 m) |
Top floor | 413 ft (125.9 m) |
Dimensions | |
Other dimensions | 147.00 ft (44.81 m) length x 160.00 ft (48.77 m) width |
Technical details | |
Structural system | steel |
Floor count | 26 |
Floor area | 295,000 sq ft (27,400 m2) |
Lifts/elevators | 10 |
Design and construction | |
Architect |
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Architecture firm | Miller and Pflueger |
Designations |
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140 New Montgomery Street is a famous building in San Francisco, California. It is also known as The Pacific Telephone Building or The PacBell Building. This tall building has a special design style called Art Deco. It is used for different things, like offices. You can find it in the South of Market district, near other cool places like the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
This 26-story building was built to bring many smaller offices into one big, modern place. It was the main office for The Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. When it opened on May 30, 1925, it was San Francisco's first big skyscraper. It was also the tallest building in the city for a short time. It was the first tall building south of Market Street. It was also the first skyscraper on the west coast used by only one company.
Later, in 2007, AT&T sold the building. Today, a big internet company called Yelp is the main company that uses the building.
Contents
Building History and Design
Early Years and Original Use
When the building was first built, it was home to The Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. This company was part of the Bell System, a large telephone network. The building used to have many bell shapes on its outside, especially around the main entrance. After 1984, when the Bell System was broken up, Pacific Telephone changed its name to Pacific Bell.
Unique Architectural Features
The building has a special "L" shape. It also has eight large eagle statues, each about 13 feet (4 meters) tall, on top of its roof. Spotlights are used to show off the beautiful terra cotta decorations on the outside, both day and night.
In 1929, a famous leader named Sir Winston Churchill visited the building. He made his first phone call across the Atlantic Ocean from here, calling his home in London.
For 44 years, until 1978, the top of the roof had a special job. It was used to warn sailors about storms. During the day, a 25-foot (7.6 meter) red flag was flown. At night, a red light was used to give the warning. This was done by the United States National Weather Service.
The Building in the 21st Century
Changes in Ownership and Purpose
In 2007, AT&T sold the PacBell Building for $118 million. The new owners first planned to turn the building into 118 fancy apartments. However, these plans were stopped because of the financial crisis that happened in 2008. The building then stayed empty for almost six years.
Renovation and New Tenants
Around 2010 and 2011, there was a big need for office space again. So, the owners decided to change their plans back to offices. In February 2012, a major renovation project began. This work made the building stronger against earthquakes. It also added new systems for water, electricity, and fire safety. The historic lobby of the building was also carefully restored. This renovation cost between $80 million and $100 million.
In 2012, Yelp announced that it would rent a large part of the building. By 2015, Yelp had expanded and was using almost 150,000 square feet (13,935 square meters) across 13 floors.
In April 2016, a company called Pembroke Real Estate Inc. bought 140 New Montgomery. They paid $284 million for the property. This shows how valuable the building is.
Images for kids
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The building as seen from Yerba Buena Gardens, near the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
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View from Market Street
See also
In Spanish: 140 New Montgomery para niños