Medico-Dental Building
Also known as: Centre City Building
Why it's listed
Rising fourteen stories at 233 A Street in San Diego, the Medico-Dental Building, also called the Centre City Building, was completed in 1927 to designs by local architect Frank W. Stevenson. Its reinforced concrete frame is clad in granite, brick, and terra cotta, with an L-shaped plan that brought light and air to every floor. Brick pilasters stress the vertical lines, while a heavily ornamented upper cap, arched windows, and a granite base give it a classical character. The building was conceived to gather the city's physicians, dentists, and a pharmacy under one roof, following a model already used in other American cities. Rentals were limited to medically approved tenants. Stevenson, who came to San Diego in 1920 to help plan the Naval Training Center, received a 1933 A.I.A. award for the design. The site earlier held Alonzo Horton's second home and later a school run by the Sisters of St. Joseph. After restoration, the building is used for professional offices.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is an outstanding example of San Diego's early skyscrapers and the best representation of architect Frank W. Stevenson's work. It also reflects a planned concept of clustering medical and dental offices with a pharmacy in one location, and it earned a 1933 A.I.A. award. The site was also once home to Alonzo Horton's second residence.
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 79000524, listed September 4, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 233 A St., San Diego |
|---|---|
| County | San Diego County |
| Listed | September 4, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000524 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1927 |
| Architect / builder | Architect: F.W. Stevenson; Builder: Wm. Simpson Const. |
| Architectural style | Classical style skyscraper |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent repair after extensive restoration and remodeling, and currently used for multi-professional offices. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 32.71835, -117.16221 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 79000524.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5818221
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.