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140 New Montgomery
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140 New Montgomery
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140 New Montgomery Street is a 26-floor Art Deco mixed-use office tower located in San Francisco's South of Market district, close to the St. Regis Museum Tower and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.[2] Constructed in 1925 as a modern headquarters for The Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co., it was originally known as The Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company Building or simply the Telephone Building,[2][1] and, after 1984, as The Pacific Bell Building[14] or The PacBell Building.[15]

Key Information

When it opened on May 30, 1925, The Pacific Telephone Building was San Francisco's first significant skyscraper development, and was the tallest building in San Francisco, until the Russ Building matched its height in 1927 at the time of its completion.[2][11][12] The building was the first high-rise south of Market Street, and along with the Russ Building, remained the city's tallest until it was overtaken by 650 California Street in 1964. It was the first high rise located on the west coast to be occupied solely by a single tenant.[12]

AT&T sold the building in 2007. As of 2013, Internet company Yelp was the main tenant.[16][17] Yelp moved out in 2021 following a rise in remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

History

[edit]

The building was designed to consolidate numerous smaller buildings and outdated offices into a modern headquarters for The Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co., and as a result, was designated as the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. Coast Division Offices by the company, though referred to colloquially as The Telephone Building.[18][11]

The building's architecture was influenced by Eliel Saarinen's Tribune Tower design, in particular regarding the setbacks on the higher floors.[1]

In reference to the Bell System, of which The Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. was a member of at the time of construction, the façade featured bell motifs in many locations, most notably surrounding the arch over the main entrance doors on New Montgomery Street. The decorations near the base and in the lobby also include references to the candlestick telephone and the pneumatic tube, some of the most modern communication technologies in use at the time.[1] After the breakup of the Bell System (AT&T) in 1984,[19] and the formation the Regional Bell Operating Companies, also known as the Baby Bells, Pacific Telephone changed its name to Pacific Bell.

140 New Montgomery eagles

Statues of eight eagles (each 13 feet (4.0 m) in height) perch atop the tower's crown.[20][21] The building has an L—shaped floor plan, and the architecture decoratively incorporates spotlights to show the exterior's terra cotta ornamentation day and night.[18] The lobby is decorated with images of plants, clouds, unicorns, and phoenixes and has a plaster ceiling inspired by Chinese brocade.[22]

In 1929, Sir Winston Churchill visited the building and made his first transatlantic telephone call, phoning his London home.[23][24][8]

For 44 years until 1978, the top of the roof was used to convey official storm warnings to sailors at the direction of the United States National Weather Service, in the form of a 25 feet (7.6 metres) long triangular red flag by day, and a red light at night.[8]

The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake did only minor damage to the building, affecting parts of the terracotta cladding and requiring the eight eagle sculptures to be replaced with fiberglass replicas.[1]

In the 21st century

[edit]

In 2006, AT&T moved out of the building, following its merger with SBC Communications.[1] In 2007, the PacBell Building was sold by AT&T to Stockbridge Capital Group and Wilson Meany Sullivan for US$118 million.[25] In 2008, the new owners filed plans to convert the tower into 118 luxury condominiums. However, those plans were put on hold during the 2008 financial crisis, and the building sat empty for nearly six years.[26]

Following a surge in office demand in 2010–2011, Wilson Meany Sullivan changed the plans back to office space.[26] Major renovation work began in February 2012, to improve the building's seismic performance, install all–new mechanical, electric, plumbing and fire sprinkler systems, and preserve and restore the building's historic lobby, at an estimated cost of US$80–100 million.[27] In 2012, Yelp announced it had signed a lease on the building's 100,000 square feet (9,300 m2) of office space through 2020.[28] After two expansions, the company held a total of almost 150,000 square feet (14,000 m2) on 13 floors in the fall 2015.[16]

In April 2016, Pembroke Real Estate Inc., a Boston–based REIT, acquired 140 New Montgomery as part of its portfolio — its second acquisition in San Francisco.[6][29][30][31] According to property records, Pembroke paid US$284 million for the property, at around US$962 per square foot.[30][31]

In 2021, Yelp did not renew its 2011 lease, and instead subleased a smaller space at nearby 350 Mission Street, due to the rise of remote work in the COVID-19 pandemic.[32] As of May 2023, during what the San Francisco Chronicle described as "Downtown San Francisco['s] worst office vacancy crisis on record," the building had a vacancy rate of 32.9%.[33]

See also

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[edit]

References

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140 New Montgomery

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140 New Montgomery Street is a 26-story office tower and Point of Historical Interest located in 's of Market (SoMa) district. Completed in and originally known as the , it served as the for the for nearly 80 years and was the tallest in at 435 feet upon opening. Designed by architect Timothy L. Pflueger of the firm Miller and Pflueger, the building exemplifies early 20th-century Art Deco architecture with its glazed terra-cotta facade, ornate lobby details, and distinctive eagle gargoyles. Spanning approximately 300,000 square feet, it was constructed during the 1920s economic boom as a hub for modern communications infrastructure. In 2008, the structure underwent a major renovation led by developer Wilson Meany and architect , which restored its historic elements, upgraded its seismic resilience, replaced windows, and added modern amenities like LEED-certified sustainable features, an urban garden, and flexible office spaces. Following Yelp's relocation in 2021, the building has attracted a diverse array of tech and professional tenants, including Bloomberg, , , super{set}, and R1 Healthcare, which selected 140 New Montgomery as the new headquarters for its AI lab in November 2025, achieving 82% occupancy by mid-2024. Today, 140 New Montgomery stands as a revitalized landmark blending historic preservation with contemporary innovation in one of San Francisco's key commercial areas.

Location and Description

Site and Surroundings

140 New Montgomery is situated at 37.786819°N, 122.399905°W in San Francisco's South of Market (SoMa) district, a vibrant urban area known for its mix of commercial, cultural, and residential spaces. The building occupies a prominent block bounded by New Montgomery, Mission, Second, and Minna streets, placing it at the heart of the city's evolving South of Market neighborhood. This location integrates seamlessly with SoMa's dynamic environment, adjacent to key cultural institutions such as the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and the St. Regis Museum Tower, which contribute to the area's reputation as a hub for arts, entertainment, and high-end hospitality. The site's accessibility enhances its urban connectivity, with the building just 1.5 blocks from the Montgomery Street station, a major interchange for BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) and Muni Metro lines, facilitating efficient regional and local travel. Pedestrian-friendly streets like Mission and Second provide direct links to the Financial District and broader transit network, including bus routes and the nearby Transbay Terminal. In the 1920s, the site was selected by the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company for its strategic proximity to primary business clients in the central business district and to City Hall, ensuring optimal access for operations and expansion in San Francisco's growing commercial core. This choice underscored the area's emerging importance as a nexus for infrastructure and economic activity south of Market Street.

Physical Characteristics

140 New Montgomery is a 26-story office tower standing at an architectural height of 435 feet (132.7 meters), with a total height to tip of 460 feet (140.2 meters). The building features a steel frame construction, with beams and columns originally encased in concrete for interior elements and brick for perimeter framing, providing structural integrity suited to the seismic conditions of San Francisco. Its exterior is clad in terracotta, contributing to both aesthetic and protective qualities against environmental factors. The tower encompasses 295,000 square feet of leasable office space across its floors, with a truncated E-shaped floor plan. This configuration supports efficient vertical office use while accommodating the building's mixed-use elements. The original lateral force-resisting system consists of partially restrained steel moment frames with riveted connections, designed to address earthquake risks prevalent in the region during its 1925 construction era.

Architecture and Design

Architectural Style and Influences

140 New Montgomery, originally constructed as the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company headquarters, exemplifies the Art Deco style prevalent in American architecture during the 1920s. Designed by the architectural firm Miller and Pflueger, with Timothy L. Pflueger serving as the lead designer, the building embodies the era's emphasis on modernity, geometric precision, and vertical expression. Completed in 1925, it was part of San Francisco's post-1906 earthquake rebuilding efforts, rising as the city's tallest structure at the time and symbolizing technological progress in telecommunications. The Art Deco aesthetic of 140 New Montgomery draws heavily from the skyscraper trends originating in New York City, where buildings like those influenced by the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris introduced streamlined forms and setback massing, reflecting skyscraper trends influenced by the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris. Pflueger and his partner James Rupert Miller incorporated these elements to create a sense of upward momentum, reflecting the firm's admiration for Eliel Saarinen's second-place design for the 1922 Chicago Tribune Tower competition, which featured dramatic verticality and terraced setbacks. This influence is evident in the building's overall silhouette, prioritizing height and elegance over ornate excess. Central to the design philosophy was the integration of symbolism tailored to its role as a telephone company headquarters, using architectural form to evoke connectivity and communication in an era of rapid technological expansion. The structure's vertical emphasis not only maximized office space but also metaphorically represented the transmission of voices across distances, aligning with the broader 1920s vision of architecture as a medium for corporate identity and civic aspiration. This approach positioned 140 New Montgomery as a bridge between functional utility and artistic innovation, distinct from the more restrained Beaux-Arts styles of earlier San Francisco landmarks.

Key Features and Materials

The exterior of 140 New Montgomery is clad in high-quality glazed terra cotta produced by Gladding, McBean & Co. in Lincoln, California, featuring a palette of nine shades of gray that mimic granite for a shimmering effect in sunlight. Ornamentation includes vertical flutes, pilasters, and geometric patterns across the facade, with bell motifs—such as miniature bell-shaped columns on the spandrels beneath windows and a large stylized blue bell logo above the main entrance—symbolizing the building's original role in telephony. At the crown, massive eagle statues perch on the parapet, adding a dramatic sculptural element to the skyline. Structurally, the building employs a steel framework, which was engineered for enhanced earthquake resistance in the seismically active San Francisco region following the 1906 disaster. This skeleton supports the 26-story tower, allowing for the lightweight terra cotta cladding that defines its aesthetic without compromising stability. The interior lobby showcases ornate Art Deco detailing, with black polished marble floors and walls creating a luxurious base. Brass and bronze accents, including gilded fixtures and elaborate elevator doors, complement the high ceilings adorned with hand-painted plaster murals depicting eastern-inspired motifs like unicorns, phoenixes, clouds, and mythical creatures in reds, golds, greens, and blues. Unique elements include the rooftop setbacks at the 18th and 24th floors, which create a stepped profile that was innovative for San Francisco skyscrapers of the era and enhances the building's vertical drama. These setbacks made it the city's first setback skyscraper. These setbacks, combined with floodlighting, provide a striking visual impact at night, illuminating the terra cotta and sculptural details against the cityscape.

History

Construction and Early Years

Construction of 140 New Montgomery began on January 1, 1924, as the new headquarters for the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company, a key component of the Bell System monopoly providing telephone services across the western United States. The project was designed by the architectural firm of Miller and Pflueger to accommodate the company's rapidly expanding administrative needs, including space for approximately 2,000 employees in its Bay and Coast Divisions. The site at 140 New Montgomery Street had previously housed a four-story brick and concrete structure designed by A. A. Cantin, which was destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, prompting the need for a more resilient and expansive replacement. The building's construction proceeded swiftly over 17 months, reflecting the urgent demand for additional office space amid the post-World War I boom in telephone usage and infrastructure growth. Engineers incorporated fireproof materials and reinforced construction techniques informed by the lessons of the 1906 disaster, ensuring the structure's durability in a seismically active region. At a cost of $4.55 million—equivalent to about $84 million in 2025 dollars—the 26-story tower rose to a height of 435 feet, becoming San Francisco's tallest building upon its completion and symbolizing the city's architectural resurgence. The structure was officially opened on May 30, 1925, marking it as the city's first major skyscraper development and holding the height record until the Russ Building matched it in 1927. This rapid timeline and scale underscored the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company's commitment to supporting the explosive growth in telecommunications, with the new headquarters featuring modern amenities like a women's cafeteria and a 400-seat assembly hall to facilitate efficient operations from day one.

20th Century Operations

Upon its completion in 1925, 140 New Montgomery served as the headquarters for the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company (PT&T), a key subsidiary of the Bell System, housing general offices, executive suites, management, billing, and advertising departments for the company's Bay and Coast Divisions. The 26-story structure consolidated administrative operations previously dispersed across eight smaller buildings in San Francisco, accommodating approximately 2,000 employees in well-lit, fireproof interiors that included a women's cafeteria and a 400-seat assembly hall. As PT&T expanded telephone services across Northern California and Nevada during the mid-20th century, the building functioned as the central administrative hub, supporting the company's growth amid increasing demand for connectivity; a planned south-side wing addition was envisioned from the outset to accommodate future needs. Following the 1984 divestiture of the Bell System, PT&T rebranded as Pacific Bell (PacBell), continuing to operate from the site through the 1980s as part of the evolving AT&T network, with executive offices on upper floors like the 18th level featuring period-appropriate wood-paneled interiors. The building remained a prominent symbol of San Francisco's skyline throughout much of the century, tied for the city's tallest structure at 435 feet from its 1925 opening until 1927, when the Russ Building matched its height; this distinction persisted until 1964, when mid-century high-rises like the Wells Fargo Bank Building surpassed it.

Ownership and Renovations

Ownership Timeline

The 140 New Montgomery building was constructed in 1925 as the headquarters for the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company, a regional operating subsidiary of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T), and remained under its ownership through the mid-20th century. Following the 1984 antitrust-mandated divestiture of AT&T's local telephone operations into independent "Baby Bell" companies, the property transferred to Pacific Telesis Group, the holding company for Pacific Bell (the successor to Pacific Telephone and Telegraph). In 1997, Pacific Telesis merged with SBC Communications Inc. in a $16.7 billion transaction, bringing the building under SBC's control. SBC then acquired AT&T Corp. in 2005 for $16 billion and adopted the AT&T name, retaining ownership of the building until its sale in 2007. In March 2007, AT&T sold 140 New Montgomery to a joint venture between developers Wilson Meany Sullivan and Stockbridge Capital Group for $118 million, marking the property's transition from telecommunications to commercial real estate investment. The joint venture held the building through a period of renovation and tenant repositioning, during which it achieved LEED Gold certification for sustainable features including energy-efficient systems and recycled water usage. In April 2016, Pembroke Real Estate, Inc. acquired the property from the Wilson Meany-Stockbridge joint venture for $284 million, its second major San Francisco investment following 100 California Street. As of 2025, Pembroke remains the owner, managing the 26-story Art Deco tower as a mixed-use office property emphasizing innovation, technology infrastructure, and environmental sustainability.

Major Renovations

A comprehensive overhaul began in February 2012 under developer Wilson Meany Sullivan, involving an investment estimated at $80 million to $100 million. The scope included a full seismic retrofit to enhance earthquake resilience, featuring the addition of concrete shear walls in a new central core, steel outriggers with buckling-restrained braces, over 2.3 million pounds of rebar, and 10,000 tons of concrete. Modernization efforts also encompassed complete replacements of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems, along with new HVAC infrastructure, elevators, and over 1,300 energy-efficient windows, all designed to support contemporary office use while preparing for sustainability certification. These upgrades were substantially completed by late 2013, transforming the 1925 structure into a resilient, high-performance facility. The building achieved LEED Gold certification in 2014 as part of the broader renovation, reflecting its commitment to reduced environmental impact through features like high-performance glazing and efficient building systems. Under Pembroke's stewardship since 2016, the LEED Gold certification has been maintained, including a recertification on November 18, 2021, under LEED v4.1. All major renovations adhered strictly to San Francisco's historic preservation codes and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, ensuring that structural interventions and aesthetic restorations preserved the building's landmark status without compromising its architectural integrity. This compliance involved detailed consultations with preservation experts, such as Page & Turnbull and Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, to repair and stabilize original elements like the terra cotta cladding and lobby ornamentation while integrating modern technologies.

Modern Use and Significance

Current Tenants and Usage

140 New Montgomery serves as a mixed-use property in San Francisco's South of Market district, primarily dedicated to office space with retail components at the ground level, encompassing approximately 295,000 square feet of leasable area. The retail spaces include street-level restaurants, such as the elevated Japanese dining venue Shoji, which opened in April 2025. A notable former tenant was Yelp, which established its headquarters in the building in 2013 and occupied multiple floors until downsizing and relocating in 2021. As of June 2024, the building maintains an 18% vacancy rate—significantly lower than the city's overall office vacancy of 36.6% at that time—with current tenants comprising tech firms like Calendly and the startup studio super{set}, professional services provider Heidrick & Struggles, and Bloomberg, which renewed its lease in 2024. Post-2012 renovations emphasized modern office adaptations, incorporating amenities such as collaborative workspaces, extensive bike storage and showers, luxury locker rooms, a xeriscaped outdoor courtyard, smart elevator systems, and green technologies including over 1,300 operable windows and MERV13 HVAC filtration to support contemporary professional needs. These features position the building as a hub for innovation-driven businesses in a recovering San Francisco office market.

Historic and Cultural Importance

140 New Montgomery is classified as a Category I Historic Building by the City and County of San Francisco, the highest level of local historic recognition, acknowledging its architectural and historical value. This designation underscores its role as a prime example of early 20th-century high-rise design in the city. Additionally, the building is eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places, owing to the rarity of intact Art Deco skyscrapers from the 1920s in the western United States. As a symbol of 1920s technological advancement, 140 New Montgomery originally served as the headquarters for the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company, embodying the era's rapid growth in telecommunications infrastructure and urban ambition. Constructed shortly after the 1906 earthquake, it represented one of the first significant skyscrapers in San Francisco's post-disaster rebuilding, helping to catalyze commercial development in the South of Market district by anchoring the area's emergence as a hub for business and innovation. The building's distinctive Art Deco style has made it a focal point in cultural narratives, frequently highlighted in media coverage of San Francisco's architectural heritage and included in guided tours such as the San Francisco City Guides' Downtown Deco Tour. In recent years, 140 New Montgomery has achieved LEED Gold certification for its core and shell, demonstrating a commitment to sustainable preservation that balances historic integrity with modern environmental standards. This recognition highlights its ongoing contribution to the city's heritage through adaptive reuse, ensuring the structure's endurance amid contemporary urban pressures. By retaining its ornate terra-cotta facade and vertical massing, the building adds to the diversity of San Francisco's skyline, providing a counterpoint to the predominance of sleek glass towers and preserving a tangible link to the city's interwar architectural legacy.

References

  1. https://www.pembroke.com/portfolio/north-america/united-states/san-francisco/140-new-montgomery/
  2. https://noehill.com/sf/landmarks/poi_pacific_telephone_and_telegraph.asp
  3. https://www.sgh.com/project/140-new-montgomery-street/
  4. https://140nm.com/
  5. https://wilsonmeany.com/project/140-new-montgomery/
  6. https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/business/former-yelp-downtown-sf-headquarters-filling-with-tenants/article_cebcd6f6-21ee-11ef-ba12-9fb4738b28e8.html
  7. https://www.cbre.com/press-releases/140-new-montgomery-in-san-francisco-signs-56000-sf-in-leases
  8. https://commercialobserver.com/2025/11/r1-healthcare-san-francisco-hq-ai-lab/
  9. https://www.pembroke.com/news/140-new-montgomery-in-san-francisco-signs-56000-sf-in-new-renewal-leases-making-the-property-82-leased-with-the-addition-of-three-new-office-tenants/
  10. https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/ca3887/
  11. https://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/CA-01-075-0003
  12. https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/140-new-montgomery-street/12796
  13. https://global.ctbuh.org/resources/papers/2097-Mahjoub_2015_HistoricHigh-Rise.pdf
  14. https://sfyimby.com/2021/02/number-48-140-new-montgomery-street-soma-san-francisco.html
  15. https://www.pembroke.com/news/pembroke-acquires-landmark-property-140-new-montgomery/
  16. https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/ARCHITECTURE-GOES-DECO-2788917.php
  17. https://www.untappedcities.com/architecture-spotlight-bell-telephone-building-a-monument-to-talk/
  18. https://artandarchitecture-sf.com/bell-telephone-building.html
  19. https://www.holmes.us/portfolio-articles/roaring-20s-icon-returned-glory/
  20. http://sfmuseum.org/hist8/140telco.html
  21. https://www.officialdata.org/us/inflation/1925?amount=4550000&endYear=2025
  22. https://140nm.com/stories/
  23. https://www.opensfhistory.org/osfhcrucible/2025/01/25/streetwise-looking-back-100-years-ago-in-san-francisco/
  24. https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/03/a-26-story-history-of-san-francisco/284467/
  25. https://about.att.com/innovation/ip/brands/history
  26. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/31/business/sbc-agrees-to-acquire-att-for-16-billion.html
  27. https://plantconstruction.com/projects/140-new-montgomery/
  28. https://www.costar.com/article/146514/pembroke-adds-former-pacbell-office-tower-to-its-san-francisco-portfolio
  29. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204520204577249961903936938
  30. https://inhabitat.com/perkinswill-revitalizes-sfs-iconic-140-new-montgomery-into-a-leed-gold-office-tower/140-new-montgomery-perkins-will-1/
  31. https://www.usgbc.org/projects/140-new-montgomery-0
  32. https://transbaydiaries.wordpress.com/2014/05/13/7019/
  33. https://www.cbs42.com/business/press-releases/cision/20250423SF71423/shoji-brings-elevated-japanese-dining-to-140-new-montgomery/
  34. https://wilsonmeany.com/press-item/yelp-occupies-140-new-montgomery/
  35. https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2021/02/03/yelp-140-montgomery-listed-for-lease.html
  36. https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/140-new-montgomery-19492883.php
  37. https://therealdeal.com/san-francisco/2024/06/03/bloomberg-renews-lease-at-san-francisco-office-building/
  38. https://sfcityguides.org/tour/downtown-deco/
  39. https://sf.curbed.com/maps/san-franciscos-iconic-buildings-a-skyline-in-flux/coit-tower
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