How fitting.
A towering government building in San Francisco, once dismissed by President Trump as “one of the ugliest structures” in the city, is set to be formally dedicated to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Next week, the 18-story San Francisco Federal Building will bear her name, officially becoming the “Speaker Nancy Pelosi Federal Building.” The decision to rename the building was included in the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act, a sweeping $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill.
The building, which stands 234 feet tall in the South of Market district, has been the subject of both praise and criticism since its opening in 2007. While its energy-efficient design earned it accolades for sustainability, with features like natural lighting and a third less energy consumption than typical California office buildings, its aesthetic has drawn sharp criticism. The structure, which cost $144 million to construct, is covered with V-shaped stainless steel panels that critics say create a dull, unappealing appearance. Located across from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, a classical Beaux-Arts masterpiece, the modernist design has not aged well in the eyes of many locals.
In fact, President Trump himself pointed out the building’s design flaws in his 2020 executive order aimed at promoting beautiful federal architecture. His directive, which sought to reverse the trend of “art-for-art’s-sake” designs, singled out the San Francisco Federal Building, claiming that while architects might have praised the structure, ordinary citizens considered it an eyesore.
Despite the energy-efficient features, the building’s location in one of San Francisco’s most crime-ridden areas has raised serious concerns. In 2023, reports surfaced that workers in the building were warned about the growing security risks, with drug dealing and homelessness rampant in the area. In fact, one memo from the Department of Health and Human Services noted that employees were encouraged to work from home due to safety concerns, as the area had witnessed over 500 drug-related incidents in just a year.
Nancy Pelosi, who represented California’s 12th district for over three decades, has been one of the most prominent figures in the Democratic Party, serving as Speaker of the House during both of Donald Trump’s impeachments. However, Pelosi’s influence didn’t prevent a shift in voter sentiment in San Francisco, which saw a 7-point swing toward Trump in the 2024 election.
As the naming ceremony approaches, it’s clear that while Pelosi’s legacy may be celebrated by her party, the controversial design and troubled location of the building serve as a reminder of the challenges facing both the city and the federal government under her leadership.