Rincon Center

The lobby (facing Mission Street) of this art deco post office-cum-residential and office tower has intriguing WPA-style murals. Painted in 1941 by the Russian Social Realist painter Anton Refregier, this luscious historical panorama was hugely controversial at the time of its unveiling, not only because it was the most expensive of the WPA mural projects, but also because it included many dark moments from California's past. The central atrium has a unique all-water sculpture by Doug Hollis, dubbed Rain Column. The sculpture's 50-plus gallons of recycled water fall 85ft (26m) into a central pool every minute.