The Transamerica Pyramid is an icon of San Francisco and a sought out building in the city's skyline. The pyramid was commissioned by Transamerica CEO Jack Beckett with specific instructions of raising a building that would allow light in the street below. The pyramid was designed by the famous architect William L. Pereira, it was built in three years and opened in the summer of 1972. There are no tours of the building currently, but you can see its 853 ft. (260 m) covered in crushed quartz from almost anywhere in The City.