County of building: San Diego County
Location of building: Hochmuth Avenue, facing Parade Ground, MCRD, San Diego
Built: 1925
Common Name: Building 7
Historic Name: Building A-1
Original Use: Barracks with Central Mess Hall
Current Use: Housing and administrative and personnel support offices
Architectural Style: Spanish Colonial
Architect: Bertram G. Goodhue
Contractor: W. E. Kier Construction Co., San Diego
"Building No. 7 is one of six two-story barracks (Buildings 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
and 7) which line the north side of the parade grounds. It includes more than
30,000 square feet, about 20,000 on the first story and the remainder on the
second story. It is built on a concrete foundation with reinforced concrete
piers and hollow clay tile walls, surfaced in stucco. The arcaded breezeway,
which joins all buildings along the parade ground, extends across the facade
(south elevation) of this building.
"Building No. 7 is E-shaped, with a long two-story stem and three small
one-story rear extensions. The central two-story segment in hipped roof with a
central ventilator, all covered in clay tiles. The three one-story rear wings
are flat-roofed. Small flat-roofed wings exist at either end of the facade,
with the second story extending over the breezeway.
"Several notable architectural details leaven the severity of this massive
building and define its Spanish Colonial architectural character. Most notable
are triumphal arch motifs which surround the entrances to the two side wings of
the facade, made of cast-stone (concrete) members. First story windows and
doors align with the openings of the arcade. The central bays include French
doors with fanlight transoms and sidelights. Side bays openings are windows,
also with fanlights and borders. Second story windows are intrusive metal
double-hung sash with metal grill muntins.
"The rear elevation includes, as noted, three one-story wings, two long
wings which align with the side wings of the facade, and a small central wings,
which originally served as a kitchen. The kitchen wings features a tall
stuccoed chimney with a rounded chimney hood. Windows and doors on the rear
elevation mimic those found on the facade, with arched windows and doors on the
first story and metal double-hung sash on the second. This pattern -- arched
first-story and rectangular second story also holds for the east and west side
elevations.
"Building No. 7 is almost completely unmodified. The only notable intrusive
elements are the metal second story windows. First story windows were replaced
ca. 1982 but are faithful reproductions of the originals.
"Building No. 7 contributes to the significance of the Marine Corps Recruit
Depot on the basis of architectural compatibility and historical function.
This building was designed by Bertram Goodhue and was included in his 1918
master plan for the base. Unlike the five other identical Type A barracks,
Building No. 7 was not constructed in 1921. After the Marine Corps decided to
relocate its recruit depot from Mare Island Navy Shipyards in Vallejo,
California to the San Diego Marine Base in August 1923, Building No. 7 was
constructed to provide additional housing.
"Like the other Type-A barracks, Building No. 7 is strung-out along the
north side of the parade ground. It contained dormitories in the first floor
wings and offices in the rooms fronting along the arcade. As in the other
Type-A buildings a large mess hall was located in the central portion of the
first floor with kitchen facilities adjacent at the rear. The second floor contained enlisted men's barracks and lavatories. Building No. 7 served as the
billeting area for permanent personnel of Headquarters Company for a number of
years, and continued to serve, in part, as NCO housing although over the years
a greater and greater portion of the building has been dedicated to other uses.
During the 1960's a portion of the east wing of the building was turned into a
library and museum. In 1986 Service Company Headquarters moved into the west
wing of the building and the barracks space vacated. Currently, the building
houses the Civilian Personnel Office, a child care and nursery facility, Fire
Prevention, and the Depot Library." NRHP Nomination Form