County of building: San Diego County
Location of building: Hochmuth Avenue, facing Parade Ground, MCRD, San Diego
Built: 1921
Common Name: Building 3
Historic Name: Building A-5
Original Use: Barracks with Central Mess Hall
Current Use: East wing — housing; west wing ~ administration.
Architectural Style: Spanish Colonial
Architect: Bertram G. Goodhue
Contractor: Dawson Construction Co.
"Building No. 3 is one of six two-story barracks (Buildings 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
and 7) which line the north side of the parade grounds. It includes more than
30,000 square feet, about 20,000 on the first story and the remainder on the
second story. It is built on a concrete foundation with reinforced concrete
columns and hollow clay tile walls, surfaced in stucco. The arcaded breezeway,
which joins all buildings along the parade ground, extends across the facade
(south elevation) of this building.
"Building No. 3 is E-shaped, with a long two-story stem and three small
one-story rear extensions. The central two-story segment is hipped roof with a
central ventilator, all covered in clay tiles. The three one-story rear wings
are flat-roofed. Small flat-roofed wings exist at either end of the facade,
with the second story extending over the breezeway.
"Several notable architectural details leaven the severity of this massive
building and define its Spanish Colonial architectural character. Most notable
are triumphal arch motifs which surround the entrances to the two side wings of
the facade, made of cast-stone (concrete) members. First story windows and
doors align with the openings of the arcade. The central bays include French
doors with fanlight transoms and sidelights. Side bays openings are windows,
also with fanlights and borders. On the second story intrusive metal doublehung sash with metal grill muntins have replaced the original wood-framed
casement windows and French doors.
"The rear elevation includes, as noted, three one-story wings, two long
wings which align with the side wings of the facade, and a small central wing,
which originally served as a kitchen. The kitchen wing features a tall
stuccoed chimney with a rounded chimney hood. Windows and doors on the rear
elevation mimic those found on the facade, with arched windows and doors on the
first story and metal double-hung sash on the second. This pattern—arched
first-story and rectangular second story also holds for the east and west side
elevations.
"Building No. 3 is almost completely unmodified. The only notable intrusive
elements are the metal second story windows. First story windows were replaced
ca. 1983 but are faithful reproductions of the originals.
"Building No. 3 contributes to the significance of the Marine Corps Recruit
Depot on the basis of architectural compatibility and historical function.
This building was designed by Bertram Goodhue and was one of the eight original
buildings constructed in 1921.
"Building No. 3 was one of six identical Type-A barracks strung-out along
the north side of the parade ground. Each barracks contained NCO quarters in
the first floor wings and a large dining hall in the central portion of the
first floor with kitchen facilities adjacent at the rear. The second floor
contained enlisted men's barracks and lavatories. During the 1950s and 1960s it
housed personnel of the Signal School Battalion, and later the Communications
Electronics School Battalion, the only Marine Corps training school of its
type. The building is currently used as housing and administrative offices for
the Second and Third Recruit Training Battalions." ~ NRHP Nominaiton Form