There was need for a temporary City Hall after the old City Hall was
demolished. Although badly wrecked by the earthquake, portions of the old
building, including the Hall of Records, were occupied by City Offices
until 1909.
A temporary City Hall was built on Market Street and served until the new
City Hall was opened in 1915. This temporary building later became the
Hotel Whitcomb, and is now the Ramada Hotel. It was badly damaged
during the 1989 earthquake, but was repaired.
Municipal City Hall, San Francisco
-- Wright, Rushforth & Cahill, Architects
A Seven Story City Hall for San Francisco
The accompanying illustration shows the Market street front of the
structure which is to be erected by Mr. James Otis, trustee, on the south
side of Market street near Eighth, San Francisco, and which is to be used
temporarily as a City Hall. It is to be of reinforced concrete with a
frontage on Market street of 200 feet, depth 165 feet, and height above the
sidewalk of 102 feet. It will contain seven stories and basement, and will
cost approximately $600,000.
The building is so planned that it may eventually be used as a
first-class hotel, but for the present the interior arrangements have been
specially designed for the accomodation of various City departments which
are to occupy the building when completed.
On the ground floor will be housed the County Clerk, Tax Collector and
Assessor. The second floor will contain offices of the Board of
Supervisors, Fire Commissioners and Board of Education. The third floor
will provide for official offices of the Mayor and his Secretary; the Civil
Service Commission, Sheriff and Grand Jury. On the fourth floor are
placed the Justice Courts, City Attorney and Law Library, and the fifth
floor will be devoted entirely to the Superior Courts, Judges Chambers,
etc. The sixth floor will be given over to the Board of Public Works and
the Board of Health and the entire seventh floor will be occupied by the
Bureaus of Architecture and Engineering.
The building will be provided with four rapid running elevators, vacuum
cleaning plant, messenger and fire alarm service, heating plant, etc.
The main rear light courts are 24 feet, 6 inches wide and entirely open on
the south side, thus affording exceptional advantages in the important
matters of direct sunshine and light.
To the rear of the main building will be placed the Central Emergency
hospital on one side and the stables and garage on the other. The
intervening space, about 10,000 square feet, between the three buildings,
will be parked and laid out with shrubbery, flower beds, etc.
The architects are Messrs. Wright, Rushforth & Cahill of San Francisco.
The Architect and Engineer
January 1911
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