450 Sutter Street

Nestled in the heart of San Francisco’s bustling Financial District stands a unique homage to the Mayan and Beaux Arts. Designed by prolific San Francisco architect Timothy L. Pflueger, the 26-story medical and dental office building at 450 Sutter Street is nothing short of a shimmering jewel. The facade, with its Mayan-inspired bas-relief terra cotta spandrels is intriguing, but the real magic is in the lobby. Pull open the enormous bronze and glass doors and you will be greeted by crested ceilings lined with carved and cast bronze panels depicting Mayan characters and designs. At the apex of the ceiling, those designs are lined in red, a reference to the Mayan ritual of blood sacrifice.