City of San Diego Police Headquarters, Jails and Courts

Built in 1938-39 at 801 West Market Street in San Diego, this complex served as the city's police headquarters, jail and courts. Five connected units, the garage, assembly and gymnasium area, courts, jail and front administrative section with its arched entry and tower, surround an interior courtyard. The reinforced concrete buildings are finished in stucco, with cast concrete ornament and red clay tile roofs. Their Spanish Colonial Revival styling ranges from Plateresque at the front to Churrigueresque at the courts building. The design was by Charles and Edward Quayle and Alberto O. Treganza, and construction was funded by the federal PWA and WPA. The site was filled tidelands. The police department used it as its central headquarters until 1987, and only one of the planned courtrooms was ever occupied. Later additions, such as 1950s and 1970s offices and a gas pump area, altered parts of the exterior. The courtyard paving and much of the original architecture remain intact, while the landscape has suffered neglect since the building was vacated.