San Francisco's Slimmest Secret: The Heineman Building
Prepare to embark on a journey through architectural wonder as we explore one of San Francisco's most delightfully odd structure. Standing just 20 feet wide but soaring 10 stories high, the Heineman Building defies conventional architecture with its impossibly slender profile. Built in the aftermath of the devastating 1906 earthquake, this Gothic-inspired sliver of history hides in plain sight among the Financial District's towering giants, waiting for adventurous souls to discover its remarkable story.

by Rick Evans

Commonly referred to as the "Pencil Building" due to its remarkably slender profile
A Skinny Phoenix Rising from the Ashes
The Heineman Building (now known as 130 Bush) emerged as one of the first structures to rise after San Francisco's catastrophic 1906 earthquake. When architect G.A. Applegath received his commission in 1910, he faced an extraordinary challenge: design a substantial commercial building on a lot barely wider than a typical living room. Rather than shy away from the constraint, he embraced it boldly—stretching upward to create a 10-story marvel on a foundation just 20 feet across.
This architectural daredevil move resulted in one of the city's most distinctive buildings, a pencil-thin tower that seems to defy physics while quietly tucking itself between its more conventional neighbors. The structure's 80-foot depth helped compensate for its minimal width, allowing for functional commercial space despite the unusual dimensions.
The earthquake that devastated San Francisco in 1906 created an opportunity for innovative rebuilding. The Heineman Building stands as testimony to the creative solutions architects employed to navigate unusual constraints while helping the city recover from disaster.
Gothic Grace in Miniature
While its dimensions might suggest a plain, utilitarian structure, the Heineman Building is anything but ordinary. Applegath lavished this slender marvel with gorgeous Gothic-inspired details that elevate it from architectural oddity to genuine treasure. The façade features decorative glazed terra cotta tiles that catch the light, while crown-like adornments create a regal silhouette against the sky.
Every floor boasts hammered copper panels that have developed a gorgeous patina over the decades. Perhaps most ingeniously, the building incorporates specially bowed windows with prisms designed to direct the limited available sunlight into the structure's interior, maximizing natural light despite the challenging dimensions. These thoughtful touches transform what could have been merely strange into something truly special—a celebration of creativity within constraints.
From Neckties to Notables
1910: Factory Origins
Built as H.M. Heineman's necktie, belt, and suspender factory—the most impressive building in what was then San Francisco's garment district.
1930s: Commercial Conversion
After approximately 20 years of manufacturing, the building transitions to standard office spaces as the neighborhood evolves.
Present Day: Hidden Landmark
Now known simply as 130 Bush, the building continues to serve as office space while attracting architecture enthusiasts from around the world.
As surrounding buildings sprouted up on either side, the Heineman's slim profile became even more pronounced—an architectural exclamation point nestled between more conventional structures. Today, it stands as a charming reminder of how necessity and vision can combine to create something truly extraordinary.
Hide and Seek: Finding San Francisco's Skinniest Secret
Part of the Heineman Building's magic lies in its ability to hide in plain sight. Nestled in the heart of San Francisco's bustling Financial District just off Market Street, it's easy to stride past this architectural oddity without a second glance. With no prominent signage to draw attention and the visual dominance of neighboring structures, the building maintains a low profile despite its vertical reach.
For urban explorers, that's part of the thrill—spotting this slender gem requires a sharp eye and deliberate attention to the cityscape. Look for the impossibly narrow structure with Gothic details standing between larger buildings. The discovery feels like unlocking a secret level in an urban adventure game, a hidden Easter egg in the city's architectural landscape that rewards the observant traveler.
Optical Illusions: The Building That Plays Tricks on Your Eyes
The Heineman Building creates fascinating optical effects that challenge our perception. From certain angles, the structure appears impossibly thin, like an architectural optical illusion that shouldn't be able to stand. This visual trickery has earned it colorful comparisons to toothpicks and nails driven into the cityscape.
Yet when viewed from different perspectives, particularly when focusing on its 80-foot depth rather than its 20-foot width, the building suddenly appears more substantial. This shape-shifting quality creates a playful relationship between the structure and those who observe it, turning a simple sightseeing stop into an interactive visual experience.
The building's uniquely slender profile creates an almost surreal visual effect against the San Francisco skyline, appearing to change shape depending on the viewer's position and perspective. This architectural sleight-of-hand makes the Heineman Building not just something to see, but something to experience.
Engineering Marvel: How Does It Stand?
For those with even a passing interest in engineering, the Heineman Building poses a fascinating puzzle: how does something so tall yet so thin remain standing, especially in earthquake-prone San Francisco? While specific structural details aren't widely documented, the building likely employs clever engineering solutions to distribute weight and maintain stability despite its unusual proportions.
The building's depth provides crucial structural support, while its positioning between other structures may offer some lateral stability. Modern engineering principles suggest that tall, narrow buildings can succeed through careful weight distribution, strategic bracing, and foundation design. The Heineman Building's century-plus survival—including through significant seismic events—stands as testimony to the ingenuity of its engineers and the effectiveness of their solutions, even with the technological limitations of 1910.
The Art of Constrained Creativity
The Heineman Building exemplifies a fascinating principle that resonates far beyond architecture: constraints often fuel rather than limit creativity. When faced with the seemingly impossible task of creating a functional 10-story building on a 20-foot-wide lot, architect G.A. Applegath didn't merely compromise—he innovated, turning limitation into opportunity.
This principle appears repeatedly in the world's most interesting structures. From Amsterdam's famously narrow canal houses to modern micro-apartments in Tokyo and vertical urban farms in Singapore, spatial constraints consistently trigger ingenious solutions. The Heineman Building stands as an early example of this phenomenon, demonstrating how challenges can spark innovations that might never emerge in situations of abundant resources and space. For travelers and creators alike, it's a powerful reminder that limitations often serve as doorways to the most interesting possibilities.
Planning Your Visit
Location
The Heineman Building (130 Bush Street) is located in downtown San Francisco's Financial District, just off Market Street. Easily accessible by public transportation, including BART and Muni.
The building is primarily viewed from the exterior, as it houses private offices. The joy of this destination lies in the hunt and discovery—the moment when you spot this impossibly thin structure wedged between its neighbors. As with many architectural treasures, the experience is enhanced by understanding the history and context of what you're seeing, so keep this guide handy during your urban adventure!
Urban Exploration Tips
Best Viewing Time
Visit in late afternoon when the sun hits the hammered copper panels, creating a subtle glow on the facade. Weekends offer less crowded sidewalks for unobstructed viewing and photography.
Photography Challenges
The building's narrow profile makes it difficult to capture in its entirety. Try positioning yourself diagonally across the street for the best perspective, or use a wide-angle lens to capture both its slenderness and height.
Nearby Attractions
Combine your visit with exploration of other Financial District architectural gems. Grab coffee at a local cafe and create your own walking tour of unusual buildings in the neighborhood.
While the interior isn't generally open to the public, the exterior offers plenty to appreciate. Remember to be respectful of the sidewalk traffic and business operations as you explore this architectural curiosity. The building's subtle presence means you might need to circle the block a couple of times to spot it—consider this part of the adventure!
About the Author
Architectural historian, speaker, author, and preservation advocate, Rick Evans, has also established himself as one of the most coveted tour guides in San Francisco. Since 1994,
As the proprietor of the San Francisco Architecture Walking Tour, the city's premier professional architecture tour, Rick offers an unparalleled experience for those looking to delve into the architectural highlights of San Francisco

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