Teacher Training School Building-San Diego State Normal School
Also known as: Teacher Training School Building; San Diego State Teachers Co
Why it's listed
Completed in 1910 on the campus of the San Diego State Normal School, this two-story reinforced concrete building at 4345 Campus Avenue served as the school's teacher training facility. Modeled on a 15th century Italian palazzo, it has a raised basement, a middle block of two floors, and a broad truncated hip roof with wooden brackets and decorative soffit panels. Herringbone and diamond brick patterns and tile-inlaid steps add detail. It was used by the Normal School, then the San Diego State Teachers College, and since 1931 by the San Diego school district, and it is now used for storage. It was listed for its role in California's teacher education, as the only state-funded teacher training school building in Southern California, for its link to college president Dr. Edward L. Hardy, and as a rare Italian Renaissance Revival educational building in San Diego. Later changes include a sealed main entrance, replaced windows and a new roof covering.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under Criteria A, B and C. It is the only state-funded teacher training school building built in Southern California and was a living laboratory for student teachers. It is tied to Dr. Edward L. Hardy, a leader in California teacher education. It is also a rare Italian Renaissance Revival educational building in San Diego, attributed to State Architect George C. Sellon and State Engineer Nathan Ellery.
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 98001193, listed September 17, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 4345 Campus Ave., San Diego |
|---|---|
| County | San Diego County |
| Listed | September 17, 1999 |
| Reference number | 98001193 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1910-1931 |
| Architect / builder | Attributed to George C. Sellon (Architect) and Nathan Ellery (Civil Engineer); builder unknown |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Italian Renaissance |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now used solely for storage by the San Diego Unified School District; altered after 1952 (main east entrance sealed, windows replaced, clay roof tiles replaced with asphalt) but retains substantial integrity. |
| Acreage | 4.3 |
| Coordinates | 32.75553, -117.14712 (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 98001193.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q6139525
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.