450 Sutter Street

You are looking at a twenty-six story landmark that opened in nineteen twenty-nine, originally conceived by an eccentric dentist named Francis Edward Morgan Junior. He envisioned a towering skyscraper dedicated entirely to the medical and dental professions, and at the time of its completion, it stood as the largest medical office building west of the Mississippi River. The architect, Timothy Pflueger, rejected the popular European styles of the era and instead covered the building in terra cotta tiles featuring bold, Mayan-inspired geometric patterns. This choice earned the building a reputation as a pioneering example of Neo-Mayan design, giving it a distinct and shimmering appearance that still defines this corner of downtown today.