450 Sutter Building, San Francisco

The 450 Sutter Building, constructed in 1929, is a prominent twenty-six-floor skyscraper in San Francisco, standing at a height of 105 meters (344 feet). Its remarkable architectural style combines elements of "Neo-Mayan" and Art Deco, showcasing the visionary design of architect Timothy L. Pflueger. Notably, this building's distinctive vertically faceted exterior served as an inspiration for Pietro Belluschi when he created the similarly faceted exterior of the 555 California, formerly known as the Bank of America Center, completed in 1969.

The primary occupants of the building consist of dental and medical professionals, who operate their practices within its premises. In the 1960s, Dr. Harry Benjamin, an endocrinologist and sexologist renowned for his groundbreaking clinical work with transgender individuals, established a summer practice in the building. Many of Dr. Benjamin's patients came from the nearby Tenderloin neighborhood, highlighting the building's significance within the medical community.

Notably, in the director's commentary of the influential 3D adventure game Grim Fandango, game designer Tim Schafer acknowledges the building's profound impact on the game's aesthetics. Schafer reveals that his exposure to 450 Sutter came about due to his dentist's office being situated on one of the upper floors. Inspired by the building's grandeur, Schafer incorporated its essence into the game's Department of Death, a pivotal location. Additionally, the building served as a model for the fictional "Vu Financial" commercial office tower in the 2003 Maxis video game SimCity 4, further showcasing its enduring influence across different mediums.