Next week, an 18-story government building in California that President-elect Trump once called “one of the ugliest structures” in San Francisco will be solemnly dedicated to former House Speaker Nanci Pelosi.
According to Bay City News, the top Democrat will be present to unveil new signage at a ceremony on Monday for the San Francisco Federal Building, a 234-foot-tall structure in the city’s South of Market neighborhood. The building was renamed the “Speaker Nancy Pelosi Federal Building” last year. In the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, a $1.7 trillion omnibus spending plan, Pelosi was honored with the building’s name.
The $144 million, energy-efficient “green” structure was constructed with V-shaped stainless steel panels at the top that fold over a wide concrete frame. It opened in 2007. It is intended to use one-third the energy of an average office building in California, illuminate 80% of the structure with natural light, and provide a healthy work environment for employees.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) accredited it as the first federal building in the United States. It is a widely accepted rating system that assesses a building’s sustainability.
According to the General Services Administration (GSA), which runs the facility, Pelosi’s offices are located there along with those of the Social Security Administration, Department of Transportation, Department of Labor, Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of Agriculture.
“The building’s shape and orientation maximize natural airflow for cooling and ventilation and take advantage of natural daylight for the majority of office interiors,” according to the government’s website.
Despite being commended for its energy efficiency, its drab and gray appearance has caused controversy, especially as it is located across from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, a masterpiece of Beaux-Arts on Seventh Street.
