The Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Building at 140 New Montgomery was one of San Francisco's first high-rises and was the tallest building in the city at 26 stories upon its completion in 1925. Purchased by developer Wilson Meany in 2007, the building has now been updated and converted into a modern office tower with 280,000 square feet. Tech tenants such as Yelp and Lumosity are set to move into the space, which keeps much of its stunning Art Deco character, especially in the striking lobby. Renovation work cost $60 million and included the installation of 1,300 new windows, a seismic retrofit, the creation of a sculpture garden and outdoor restaurant space and the installation of new green technology to reduce energy usage. The building was designed by architect Timothy Pflueger, whose work includes some of San Francisco's only Art Deco architecture. When Pflueger designed the PT&T Building, he had just finished his first solo project, the Castro Theater. He included influences at 140 New Montgomery from Asia, such as the colorful lobby adapted from a Chinese brocade, and from the Sierra Mountains. The exterior terracotta resembles Sierra granite. Luminaries such as Winston Churchill visited and toured the PT&T Building in the 1920's.
When Wilson Meany purchased the building, they originally intended to turn it into condos but soon switched to office space. Their goal was to create a modern, LEED-rated building that kept the original work of the structure. Working with architecture firm Perkins + Will to overhaul the space, they've added in amenities such as bike storage, showers, and space for a new restaurant, which will be Bar Agricole spin-off Trou Normand.
· 140 New Montgomery [Official Site]
· Results: What is the One Building You Miss the Most? [Curbed SF]
· Timothy Pflueger Coverage [Curbed SF]
· Melissa Reitz In as Bar Agricole Chef-Partner [Eater SF]
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