Scripps, George H., Memorial Marine Biological Laboratory
Also known as: Old Scripps Building
Why it's listed
Built between 1908 and 1910 on a bluff above the Pacific at La Jolla, this plain two-story reinforced concrete laboratory was the first permanent building of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Architect Irving Gill designed it and supervised construction, using monolithic concrete, a flat parapeted roof, skylights, interior windows and north-lit rooms in place of ornament. The structure used Kahn-method reinforcing, an early development in concrete technology. Its significance also rests on its scientific role. It housed seminars and courses that produced the first Ph.D. in 1930, and it was a workplace for eleven future members of the National Academy of Sciences. Work done inside included the textbook The Oceans and wartime surf-prediction methods. Alterations, mostly in 1931, left the basic structure unchanged. A 1958 wooden annex was added at the rear. The building remained in use as research space, and an engineering study found it could be strengthened without visibly changing it.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as the first monolithic concrete building designed and supervised by architect Irving Gill, and an early example of Kahn-method reinforced concrete. It is argued to be the oldest building in continuous use for marine science in the Americas, and the oldest of any major oceanographic research institution in the world. It also served as a teaching and research site where leading oceanographers worked and where wartime surf-prediction methods and a landmark oceanography textbook were developed.
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 77000330, listed November 10, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 8602 La Jolla Shores Dr., La Jolla |
|---|---|
| County | San Diego County |
| Listed | November 10, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77000330 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Irving Gill/Perl Acton |
| Areas of significance | Science |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated May 20, 1982 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In good condition and still in use as oceanographic research space; fund-raising for restoration was under way, and strengthening against earthquake loads was being studied. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.86505, -117.25407 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 77000330.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q3881528
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.