<Tr> <Th> Main contractor </Th> <Td> Dinwiddie Construction Co . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> References </Th> </Tr> <P> The Transamerica Pyramid at 600 Montgomery Street between Clay and Washington Streets in the Financial District of San Francisco, California, United States, is a 48 - story futurist building and the second - tallest skyscraper in the San Francisco skyline . Its height is surpassed by Salesforce Tower . The building no longer houses the headquarters of the Transamerica Corporation, which moved its U.S. headquarters to Baltimore, Maryland, but it is still associated with the company and is depicted in the company's logo . Designed by architect William Pereira and built by Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Company, at 853 feet (260 m), on completion in 1972 it was the eighth - tallest building in the world . </P> <P> The Transamerica building was commissioned by Transamerica CEO John (Jack) R. Beckett, with the claim that he wished to allow light in the street below . Built on the site of the historic Montgomery Block, it has a structural height of 853 feet (260 m) and has 48 floors of retail and office space . </P>

How tall is the transamerica building in san francisco