Does The Transamerica Pyramids foundation really go to the earths bedrock, and is it on rollers to withstand earthquakes?
No, The Transamerica Pyramid is not on rollers. The foundation, however, while not on bedrock, is on as solid ground as possible. The building stands on a 52-foot-deep steel and concrete foundation, which is designed to move with earthquakes. The truth is, San Francisco Bay and its sloughs used to come up to Montgomery Street, and ships were anchored only feet from where The Transamerica Pyramid stands today. In fact, neighboring excavations have revealed the remains of ships where dry land is now throughout San Francisco. So the building’s deep foundations go through bay fill to the most solid ground below.
