Between a Theater and a Medical Building

Look at the large building on the corner to your right. This is the Centre City Building, completed in 1927. At the time, the fourteen-story structure was the tallest building in San Diego.

But more than its imposing architecture, it is the building’s original purpose that makes it so interesting. It was designed to bring every branch of the medical profession together under one roof, from doctors to dentists, with a pharmacy on the ground floor and even a medical library on the top floor. This earned it the well-deserved nickname of the Medico-Dental Building.

In the 1920s, the idea of centralizing medical care in a single, well-organized location was remarkably modern. Architecturally, the building stands out as a fine example of the Neoclassical Revival style. Its facade combines granite, brick, and decorative cast-iron details.

Looking toward the top, you may notice its gabled roof covered in Spanish tiles, a reminder of the Mediterranean influence often found in Californian architecture. As you continue, you will come to the San Diego Civic Theatre, with its distinctive curved form. It is one of downtown San Diego’s major performance venues.

With nearly 3,000 seats, it hosts operas, Broadway musicals, concerts, ballets, comedy shows, and major cultural events. The theater officially opened on January 12, 1965, as part of a large urban redevelopment project launched in the 1960s to revitalize downtown. It reflected the ambitions of a modern San Diego: a city open to culture, business, and major events.

The building was designed by Lloyd Ruocco, one of the leading figures of modernist architecture in San Diego. Unlike the richly decorated theaters of the early 20th century, the Civic Theatre has a much more restrained, modern appearance, typical of mid-century architecture. There is no excessive gilding here, and no Belle Époque facade.

And yet, some of the biggest names in music and entertainment have performed on this stage, including Frank Sinatra, Diana Ross, Bob Dylan, Tony Bennett, Bruce Springsteen, Robin Williams, and Renée Fleming.