{"nrhp_refnum":"79000526","name":"Watts Building","other_names":["Robinson Building or, Gaslamp Plaza and Jewelers Exchange"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"520 E St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"San Diego","county":"San Diego County","state":"CA","lat":32.714748719000056,"lon":-117.15985492599998,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1979-04-26","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Commerce","Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A ten-story office building with a mezzanine, penthouse and basements at the northeast corner of Fifth Avenue and E Street in downtown San Diego, built in 1913 by the Engstum Company to designs by Bristow & Lyman.","why_significant":"The nomination argues it was one of San Diego's first high-rise buildings and stood at what was then the city's financial center, with the San Diego Savings Bank on its ground floor. It was the first local building with a sub-basement and advanced mechanical and electrical systems, and was built of reinforced concrete and advertised as earthquake- and fireproof. It is also the tallest building in the Gaslamp District and serves as a focal point and entrance marker.","narrative":"Completed in 1913 at the northeast corner of Fifth Avenue and E Street in San Diego, this office tower was built by Nathan Watts on land his family had held since 1886. Ten regular floors rise above a full basement and a sub-basement housing mechanical and electrical equipment. The reinforced concrete frame, marble and sandstone ground floor, and ornate lobby with marble floors and walls reflect its original ambition. Designed by Bristow & Lyman and built by the Engstum Company, it was among the city's first high-rises and was marketed as earthquake and fire resistant, six years after the San Francisco earthquake. The San Diego Savings Bank occupied the ground floor and basement, and 130 offices were fitted with plumbing, compressed air, gas and electric outlets to attract doctors and dentists. Jewelers later became prominent tenants. As the tallest building in the Gaslamp District, it marks the district's northern entrance, and restoration of its lobby ceiling, canopy and sidewalk glass was underway at the time of listing.","period_of_significance":"1900-","architect_builder":"The Engstum Company, builder; Bristow & Lyman, architects","architectural_style":null,"criteria":[],"status_note":"Described as in very good condition and being restored as part of the Gaslamp District rehabilitation program; renamed Gaslamp Plaza and Jewelers Exchange; present use is commercial/office.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:55:32.059105-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_CA/79000526.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/79000526/f0660e2b1d-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/79000526/f0660e2b1d-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 3.0","author":"Jeffrey Beall","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Watts_Building.JPG\" rel=\"noopener\">Jeffrey Beall</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Watts_Building.JPG"},"district":{"nrhp_refnum":"80000841","name":"Gaslamp Quarter Historic District","url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/districts/california/gaslamp-quarter-historic-district-80000841/"},"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/123861021","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watts%E2%80%93Robinson_Building","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5818342"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/california/san-diego-county/watts-building-79000526/"}