The peak of San Francisco’s iconic 555 California Street tower has been upgraded by Fogarty Finger to host new offices for Bank of America. Originally designed by SOM in the 1960s, 555 California previously served as the bank’s global headquarters. Occupying the southern half of the 49th-floor penthouse, the design serves as a bridge between midcentury rigor and contemporary elegance to honor the tower’s legacy and embody a bold proposition for the future. “The client sought to reimagine a top-floor space as an aspirational show suite—one that could showcase the building’s enduring appeal and potential for contemporary office life,” says Fogarty Finger associate director Garrett Rock.
Set against panoramic views of the South of Market district, the penthouse is divided into a pair of office suites anchored by expansive communal zones including a lounge, pantry, and gallery corridor that doubles as a curated art promenade. Sculpted alcoves abound along with subtle interventions conceived to draw out the architectural DNA of the building. The design also echoes the zigzagging geometry of the building with chamfered millwork, custom furnishings, and architectural detailing. A materiality of honed Ceppo Bianco marble, smoked oak, wood plank floors, and hand-applied roman clay grounds the interiors in their urban context while offering a warm counterpoint to the tower’s glass and steel composition. “The material palette evokes a sense of quiet sophistication,” Rock adds, “a warm, tactile environment that bridges the professionalism of a workplace with the comfort and allure of a boutique hospitality space.”
