South Hall
Why it's listed
South Hall, completed in the fall of 1873, is the oldest surviving building on the University of California's Berkeley campus. Its cornerstone was laid on October 9, 1872. Architect David Farquharson, a Scottish immigrant who also designed the first State Capitol building, gave it a Second Empire form with a mansard roof, dormers with hood moldings, iron cresting and cast iron panels showing native fruits and grains. Inside, brick-cell walls rather than continuous masonry reflect an early approach to fireproofing, and the building was designed for agriculture and science laboratories. It hosted the first graduation held in Berkeley, served as the first home of the College of Agriculture, held the University library in 1873, and housed the President's office from 1899 to 1906. It survived the replacement of neighboring North and Bacon Halls, and a 1968 renovation under Kenneth Cardwell was judged compatible with its integrity. It now houses the School of Library and Information Studies.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that South Hall is the oldest surviving building on the Berkeley campus, the setting for the first graduation held in Berkeley, and the first home of the College of Agriculture. It is also a rare West Coast example of the Second Empire style. Its brick-cell wall structure shows an early approach to fireproofing and may reflect an early attempt at earthquake-resistant design.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82004651, listed March 25, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Oxford St., Berkeley |
|---|---|
| County | Alameda County |
| Listed | March 25, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004651 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Farquharson & Kenitzer; David Farquharson, architect |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition and altered; renovated in 1968 for the University's Centennial. It currently houses the School of Library and Information Studies. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.87134, -122.25853 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82004651.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7567407
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.