The Hunter-Dulin Building was completed in 1926, a 25-story tower designed in the Romanesque-Gothic style popular in 1920s commercial architecture. The building's terra cotta exterior features the pointed arches, quatrefoil ornaments, and vertical emphasis characteristic of the style. At 111 Sutter Street, it occupies a prominent position in the Financial District, one block from the Hallidie Building and two blocks from Union Square. The building's name comes from its original developers, and it has also been known as the California Commercial Wool Building, reflecting its early association with the wool trade.

Hammett lived in San Francisco during the years he wrote his most famous novels, and he set The Maltese Falcon in real San Francisco locations that readers could visit. Sam Spade's office on Sutter Street has been linked to the Hunter-Dulin Building by literary historians, and the connection has drawn Hammett enthusiasts to the lobby for decades. The building does not advertise its literary association with signage or plaques, but for readers of detective fiction, 111 Sutter Street is as much a literary landmark as Baker Street is in London.

The Hunter-Dulin Building has survived the earthquakes, economic downturns, and architectural fashion shifts that have reshaped downtown San Francisco multiple times since the 1920s. Its Romanesque-Gothic ornamentation has gone in and out of style without the building itself being threatened. As a Class A office building, it continues to attract tenants who value its location, its architectural character, and -- perhaps -- its association with the greatest detective novel in American literature. The building stands at 111 Sutter, doing what it has done for a century: housing offices, looking handsome, and keeping Sam Spade's name alive.