story residential apartment skyscraper san_francisco california property owned operated law tower includes mixed use offices floors art styled sky room view 24th floor conceived unusual combination large church hotel construction building brought architectural dispute initially designed style investors fired firm hired changed little design resulting lawsuit won nearly half damages asked building opened william taylor hotel extra construction expenses congregation greater financial risk church hotel concept prove popular profit years church left losing investment late 1930s building housed known lounge world war 1970s served government offices reopening university housing offices home law students families tower sited block administrative center law prominent building district history church hotel skyscraper began plan formulated reverend merge largest congregations san_francisco sell churches properties combine assets build hotel initial bought property streets hired architectural firm miller design chosen designer new hotel intended dry serving alcoholic city named methodist episcopal street preacher missionary formed methodist church san_francisco large church named simply temple methodist beginning designed story step skyscraper brick framed steel lines completed main decorative theme neo gothic expressed strongly gothic arches formed main street level entrance church great hall large worship area located second fourth floors seat smaller chapel designed grand pipe organ installed controlling pipes stained glass window placed feet sanctuary representing faith love hope tall narrow panels assembly halls combined hold attendees theatrical athletic events guest rooms tower apartments intended bring steady flow visitors source profit church tallest building san_francisco tallest hotel pacific_coast decades dispute architectural firm miller fired project replaced miller sued alleging design little changed original months hotel church opened january miller won favorable court decision dedication church pipe organ took place august combined congregation satisfied new place worship eventually costing million million current value building completion required rounds new financing investors order overcome expenses unfortunately congregation idea hotel church didn attract number guests venture failed turn profit church housed theater george performance works experimental multi media theater troupe utilized foot high vaulted ceiling projections november debt accumulated protective committee property buying temple methodist congregation lost investment asked leave skinner pipe organ removed sold los_angeles rebuilt hall piece stained glass window removed exhibited eventually making way california installed morris chapel building refurbished church floor area given parking coffee shop built floor lobby new enterprise opened noted completing view lounge area 24th floor large oval bar plate glass windows sides provided view city wrote luxurious bar april prototype west new_york referring manhattan opened half years earlier federal offices beginning direct american involvement world war government bought building converted federal offices officer spaces army department passport agency induction center run local draft board high vaulted ceiling great hall worship center hidden dropped ceiling war moved offices building federal groups moved offices newly built federal building golden gate avenue later named occupancy low moved offices 1960s local required appear late 1960s offices located lower floors building vietnam war hastings college law bought building prominent district began years refurbishment redesign calling tower units modernized residential use law students building opened combination compact studio units larger bedroom apartments taking total floors building home law students families referred tower hastings residents faculty block law school main building old sky room spectacular degree view reopened james honor alumnus class prominent san_diego trial lawyer space student study day alcohol allowed available special events evenings floors building hold offices apartments residential level contains compact fitness center fourth floors contain classrooms offices political action groups legal assistance organizations 22nd 23rd floors hold publishing headquarters number scholarly journals great hall remains refurbished judged need substantial repair improvement including major architectural engineering work college plans create seat performing arts venue great hall
McAllister Tower Apartments