Super thanks go to BASE member Jay for locating and reconnoitering this gem.
Since being built in 1929 this building has housed its fair share of financial movers and shakers. Originally commissioned as a San Francisco version of the New York Stock Exchange it is the second oldest exchange in the nation. After that it served as the California Chamber of Commerce (1938-1967) and then as Western Title Insurance (1967-1979). Ever since, it has sat dormant and unused as the Financial District grew around it.
This is the main trading floor, former prime habitat of the propertied white male, two stories of grandeur complete with a balcony to oversee it all.
Today, the only residents of this building are the pigeons, who have adapted it for their own purposes. They even have a private entrance.
Above that ornate ceiling lies a complex network of steel support beams, interlaced with skylights and these fixtures which provided illumination through the floor below day and night. The market never sleeps. Except when it’s closed.
Here you see the various junction boxes that control the building, also in this room is the ventilation system and roof access.
The second floor is honeycombed with offices and served by this elevator. Nothing much of interest to be found on this level. Except for the bathroom stalls made of marble, fancy!
Apparently, in addition to the three stories this elevator serves there is also a penthouse (according to the following document). Unfortunately, we could not find the entrance to it, if it even still exists.
The basement is still full of records from the previous tenants. I wonder if they got their security deposit back?
Surrendered stock certificates, property records, plat books from the 50’s (see flickr for a few examples), and boxes of (fake) gold plated numbers were strewn over the place along with a generous helping of asbestos and mold.
Overall, this place is unmolested by taggers, homeless, and other groups that gravitate towards abandoned places. There was some evidence of copper thievery but this building’s central location seems to have deterred most of the riff raff.
Coordinates: Undisclosed FiDi Location
Very cool. Wondering if you could tell me a little bit about the nature of your group? Actual group or just a group of friends? Brand new to SF, and to UE, but am interested in starting.
We are an actual group of friends. You are welcome to come out sometime, email me at mrread at this domain.com. UER.CA and the UE groups on Flickr are some good resources for starting out.
Do they just grant any groups of people entrance into a place like this or did you have to have certain qualifications? Love the website!