555 California Street
| Formerly | Bank of America Center |
|---|---|
| Industry | Real estate |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California , United States |
| Products | Office building |
| Owner | Vornado Realty Trust (70%), The Trump Organization (30%) |
555 California Street, previously known as the Bank of America Center, is a 52-story skyscraper located in San Francisco, California. As of February 2021, it holds the position of the fourth tallest structure in the city and was recognized as the largest building by floor space in 2013. Completed in 1969, it stood as the tallest building west of the Mississippi River until surpassed by the completion of the Transamerica Pyramid in 1972. This tower functioned as the global headquarters for Bank of America until its 1998 merger with NationsBank, after which the company moved its headquarters to the Bank of America Corporate Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Ownership currently resides with Vornado Realty Trust holding 70% and The Trump Organization owning 30%.
Background
Often nicknamed "Triple Five" or "Triple Nickel," 555 California Street was conceived to reflect Bank of America's financial strength and status. The architectural design was a collaboration between Wurster, Bernardi and Emmons and Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, with consulting architect Pietro Belluschi and structural engineering by H. J. Brunnier Associates. It ranks as the 75th tallest building nationwide, comparable in height to Bank of America’s other key properties such as the Bank of America Center in Houston and 30 Hudson Street in Jersey City. By February 2021, it was ranked as the 89th tallest building in the U.S. and 103rd across North America.
The building’s extensive array of bay windows boosts its attractiveness for tenants while drawing inspiration from San Francisco’s residential architectural style. Its uniquely shaped upper sections are designed to resemble the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The north plaza pays tribute to Bank of America’s founder A.P. Giannini and includes Nagare’s monumental black Swedish granite sculpture titled "Transcendence" (also known as "Banker’s Heart"), weighing 200 tons. Exterior surfaces—including the plaza, banking hall, staircases, and sidewalks—feature polished or rough carnelian granite cladding. The Carnelian Room restaurant, once located on the 52nd floor offering rare public access via a high-speed elevator, ceased operations on New Year’s Eve 2009.
Positioned approximately 35 feet above sea level at the intersection of California and Kearny streets, the building’s summit rises beyond 800 feet. Alongside the Transamerica Pyramid, it symbolized San Francisco’s downtown expansion during the 1960s before development trends shifted southward past Market Street due to subsequent zoning restrictions. Although it is shorter than the Transamerica Pyramid’s spire, 555 California Street contains a greater amount of usable interior space.
In April 2018, the US Geological Survey included 555 California Street among 39 San Francisco skyscrapers identified as potentially vulnerable to severe earthquakes due to their welding construction methods.
In March 2007, Vornado Realty Trust purchased a controlling interest of 70% from foreign investors while The Trump Organization maintained a limited partnership stake of 30%. By 2019, the property generated $86 million in net operating income—allocating $60 million to Vornado and $26 million to The Trump Organization—and carried outstanding debt totaling $543 million by 2020. Trump's ownership stake represents one of his largest real estate investments; Forbes estimated he owed $162 million on a loan secured by this asset that was due in 2021. Notably, one significant tenant contributing to Trump's rental revenue, the Qatar Investment Authority, occupied vacant office space as of that year. On May 19, 2021, Trump announced securing a $1.2 billion loan on this property with an annual interest rate of 2%.
Major tenants
In popular culture
Since its inauguration in 1969, the structure has gained a reputation for being haunted, with numerous accounts describing mysterious occurrences such as sudden cold drafts, telephones lifting their receivers on their own, and documents being displaced from shelves.
555 California Street has been prominently featured in several films. It appeared in the 1971 movie Dirty Harry, highlighting its rooftop and sweeping views of San Francisco. The building also served as a key location in the 1974 hit The Towering Inferno, where its plaza and lobby were used to represent the fictional Glass Tower, including pivotal scenes starring Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, and Faye Dunaway. Its rooftop was again showcased in the 1981 film An Eye for an Eye. Additionally, the building is visible under construction in the 1968 film Bullitt and is featured as a landmark within the 2003 video game SimCity 4. In 2015, it was depicted as the 'RIDDICK' skyscraper in San Andreas.