Phelan Building

The Phelan Building occupies a prominent wedge-shaped lot at the intersection of Market, O'Farrell, and Grant. Its terra-cotta facade curves into a sharp point, resembling the bow of a ship cutting through the dense Financial District grid. James Phelan commissioned this structure to rise from the ashes of the nineteen oh six earthquake, replacing his father's original department store. Architects Meyer and O'Brien designed the exterior to mimic the flatiron aesthetic, anchoring a crucial junction in the city's commercial life.