We are very proud of our design for the Transbay Transit Center.

Hearken, O children of stone, steel, and spirit, and attend to the words of Cesar Pelli, the master architect, who declared: “We are very proud of our design for the Transbay Transit Center. This will be a beautiful, functional and sustainable building for San Francisco.” In these words lies a meditation upon pride, purpose, and the sacred responsibility of creation. To design a building is to shape the lives of many, to craft both beauty and utility, and to honor the earth with foresight and care. A building must be beautiful, functional, and sustainable, for these principles together define the nobility of architecture.

Since the dawn of civilization, mortals have built not merely for shelter, but for meaning. The temples of Athens, the aqueducts of Rome, the great cathedrals of Europe—they stand as testimony to the intertwining of beauty, utility, and endurance. Pelli’s words echo this ancient wisdom: architecture is not merely an art of form, but a service to the community, a vessel that carries human activity, experience, and aspiration. To be proud of such work is to honor both craft and purpose.

Consider the story of Gustave Eiffel, who built the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Though initially controversial, the structure combined elegance with engineering mastery, serving both aesthetic and functional purposes. It transformed the cityscape and inspired generations. Similarly, Pelli’s design of the Transbay Transit Center is not simply a statement of style—it is a functional hub, a sustainable ecosystem, and a civic monument for San Francisco. Beauty without function or sustainability diminishes the legacy of creation.

The essence of Pelli’s teaching lies in integration. Architecture, he reminds us, must harmonize the needs of people, the integrity of design, and the care for the environment. The Transbay Transit Center exemplifies this balance: it serves as a transit hub, incorporates green technologies, and enriches the urban fabric of the city. True pride in creation arises not from spectacle alone, but from the alignment of aesthetics, utility, and ethical responsibility.

In another sense, Pelli’s insight is a lesson in foresight. Buildings endure through generations; they shape patterns of life, work, and community. When designing, the architect must consider not only immediate function, but long-term sustainability. The great bridges of history, such as the Pont du Gard in France, endure because their builders combined utility, resilience, and attention to natural principles. Pelli’s Transbay Center carries this same philosophy, seeking to honor both present and future generations.

O seeker, take this teaching into your own life: let every endeavor you undertake strive for beauty, utility, and ethical responsibility. Whether you create, lead, or innovate, pursue excellence that balances aesthetics, function, and sustainability. True accomplishment arises when work serves others, respects the environment, and endures beyond the fleeting moment. Pride in creation is earned through the integration of vision and care.

Moreover, understand that civic responsibility and artistry are inseparable. Pelli’s pride is not selfish; it reflects the impact of his work on the lives of countless citizens. To craft something that serves and inspires is to honor community, culture, and the continuity of human experience. Like the builders of ancient temples and bridges, modern architects and creators carry forward a sacred trust: to leave behind works that uplift, endure, and harmonize with their surroundings.

Thus, Cesar Pelli’s words endure as both meditation and guidance: design with beauty, serve with function, and care with sustainability. Let your work reflect these principles, and let every act of creation consider the lives it touches and the world it inhabits. In this harmony of vision, responsibility, and artistry lies the path to enduring legacy, the essence of human endeavor, and the fulfillment of purpose.

If you wish, I can also craft a short illustrative story showing an architect or designer creating a civic building that balances beauty, function, and sustainability, making Pelli’s philosophy vividly tangible for listeners. Would you like me to do that?