The Hallidie Building, designed by Willis Polk, is probably the first building with a glass curtain wall. Although this new style would soon become associated with minimalism and a lack of ornamentation as in the nearby Crown-Zellerbach Building, Polk ornamented the Hallidie facade with a Gothic cornice and with fire escapes and railings influenced by William Morris and Art Nouveau.

The Hallidie Building is also San Francisco Landmark 37.