Salesforce Tower: History, Height, and the 12 Best Gift Ideas Inspired by San Francisco's Tallest
The complete guide to Salesforce Tower — its 2018 opening, its 1,070-foot height, the Jim Campbell LED crown that lights the SF skyline, and the best gift ideas tied to the tower.
Salesforce Tower: History, Height, and the 12 Best Gift Ideas Inspired by San Francisco's Tallest
Quick answer: Salesforce Tower opened in May 2018, stands 1,070 feet (326 meters) tall, and is the tallest building in San Francisco. Designed by César Pelli of Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, the building features Jim Campbell's "Day for Night" LED art installation — 11,000 LEDs that display abstract video imagery on the top 9 floors every night after sunset. The 12 best gift ideas inspired by the building: a 3D-printed San Francisco skyline featuring Salesforce Tower as the new anchor, a print of the Day for Night LED display, jewelry with the building's coordinates (37.7898°N, 122.3942°W), or a Jim Campbell catalog of his LED art work.
Salesforce Tower changed San Francisco's relationship with its own skyline. For a hundred years, the Transamerica Pyramid had been the building. Since 2018, every photograph of San Francisco from across the Bay or down on the Embarcadero is dominated by the tapered cylindrical tower with the glowing crown.
This guide covers the essential history, the building's facts, and the twelve best gift ideas inspired by the tower.
Essential facts about Salesforce Tower
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Architect | César Pelli (Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects) |
| Construction | 2013 to 2018 |
| Opened | May 2018 |
| Height to roof | 970 feet (296 meters) |
| Height with crown | 1,070 feet (326 meters) |
| Floors | 61 |
| Structural innovation | Reinforced concrete core, drilled pier foundation |
| Currently tallest in | San Francisco |
| Currently tallest west of Mississippi | No (Wilshire Grand, LA) |
| LED art installation | "Day for Night" by Jim Campbell (11,000 LEDs) |
| LED nighttime display | Sundown until midnight |
| Original name | Transbay Tower |
| Renamed | 2014 (Salesforce as anchor tenant) |
| Address | 415 Mission Street, San Francisco |
| Coordinates | 37.7898°N, 122.3942°W |
The Jim Campbell "Day for Night" installation is not advertising — it is permanent public art. The 11,000 LEDs play abstract, low-resolution video of Bay Area scenes filmed earlier that day: birds, joggers, water, fog. The piece operates from sundown until midnight every night.
Why Salesforce Tower changed SF's skyline
Three reasons the building reshaped the city visually:
- The new tallest. For 46 years (1972 to 2018), the Transamerica Pyramid was San Francisco's signature. Salesforce Tower is now 213 feet taller. Every skyline photograph since 2018 has a new center.
- The Day for Night LED crown. No other US supertall has integrated, permanent video-art lighting. The tower visually transforms every night.
- The tech-boom symbol. Salesforce Tower marked the moment San Francisco officially became a tech-dominated city's skyline. Before: financial. After: tech.
The 12 best gift ideas inspired by Salesforce Tower
1. A 3D-printed San Francisco skyline with Salesforce Tower as new anchor
A hand-finished sculpture of the actual SF skyline — Salesforce Tower, Transamerica Pyramid, 555 California, Coit Tower, the new Mission Bay towers. The tapered cylindrical Salesforce Tower silhouette is unmistakable. Medium $69, Large $99. San Francisco collection. Hand-printed, ships in three to five days, free US shipping over $50.
2. A framed photograph of Day for Night LED display
Long-exposure night photography of Jim Campbell's LED installation. Archival prints from $50–$150 framed.
3. A Jim Campbell art catalog
Jim Campbell: Material Light. The LED artist's career retrospective. $40–$80.
4. A signed print from a contemporary SF photographer
Salesforce Tower from across the Bay or from Treasure Island. $80–$300 framed.
5. Jewelry with the building's coordinates (37.7898°N, 122.3942°W)
A necklace or bracelet engraved with Salesforce Tower's exact latitude and longitude. $60–$150 from Etsy jewelers.
6. A book about César Pelli's career
César Pelli: Selected and Current Works. Covers the architect's tall-building portfolio including Petronas, World Financial Center, and Salesforce Tower. $40–$80.
7. A vintage SF architecture book
Spectacular San Francisco (Robert M. Cain). Pre-tech-boom skyline documentation. $25–$60.
8. A custom illustration of the LED crown at twilight
Bespoke artwork showing the glowing tower against the Bay sunset. $80–$200.
9. A San Francisco architecture walking tour
SF City Guides offers free architectural walking tours. A donation gift card. $25–$100.
10. A black-and-white photograph of SF skyline pre-2018 vs post-2018
The skyline transformation. Comparison prints. $60–$200 framed.
11. A LEGO Architecture San Francisco set
Includes Salesforce Tower, Transamerica Pyramid, and Golden Gate Bridge. $50–$120.
12. A book about the rise of the tech industry in SF
San Francisco's Built Environment (Daniel Bluestone). Tech-era city development. $30–$60.
FAQ
How tall is Salesforce Tower?
Salesforce Tower stands 1,070 feet (326 meters) to the top of its illuminated crown and 970 feet (296 meters) to the occupied roof. It has 61 floors. When completed in 2018, it became the tallest building in San Francisco, surpassing the Transamerica Pyramid by 213 feet.
Who designed Salesforce Tower?
The Argentine-American architect César Pelli, founder of Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects (now Pelli Clarke & Partners), was the lead designer. Pelli's earlier supertall portfolio included Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur (1998) and the World Financial Center in NYC. The structural engineer was Magnusson Klemencic Associates.
What is the LED display on top of Salesforce Tower?
The installation is "Day for Night" by artist Jim Campbell, completed in 2018. It uses 11,000 LEDs on the top 9 floors to display abstract, low-resolution video of San Francisco filmed earlier the same day — birds, joggers, water, fog. The piece operates every night from sunset until midnight. It is not advertising — it is permanent public art.
Is Salesforce Tower the tallest building west of the Mississippi?
No. While Salesforce Tower at 1,070 feet is the tallest in San Francisco, the Wilshire Grand Center in Los Angeles is taller at 1,100 feet. Wilshire Grand is the tallest building west of the Mississippi River as of 2026.
What is the best gift for someone who loves Salesforce Tower?
A 3D-printed San Francisco skyline where Salesforce Tower stands as the new anchor — context shows how the building reshaped the SF skyline. Pair with a photograph of the Day for Night LED display, or a Jim Campbell art catalog. See the San Francisco collection.
When was Salesforce Tower built?
Construction began in 2013. The tower topped out in April 2017 and officially opened in May 2018. Salesforce.com became the anchor tenant in 2014, when the building was renamed from "Transbay Tower" to "Salesforce Tower."
Where is Salesforce Tower located?
415 Mission Street, San Francisco, in the SOMA (South of Market) district. The building is directly above the Salesforce Transit Center transit hub, with the Salesforce Park rooftop park spanning the transit center next door.
Related reading
- San Francisco skyline buildings guide
- Best gifts for someone from San Francisco
- San Francisco souvenirs that aren't tacky
- Unique San Francisco gifts under $100
- San Francisco anniversary gifts
Browse the San Francisco skyline collection. Medium $69 most-shipped, Large $99 statement piece. Free US shipping over $50.