First Lutheran Church

The building across the street, with its mix of materials and colours, really is a church. For more than 130 years, First Lutheran Church has witnessed San Diego’s growth, architectural changes, and wider shifts in society. Unlike many historic American churches built in a more traditional style, First Lutheran was originally a fairly modest brick building, with a flat roof and an understated outline.

According to some accounts, many passers-by did not even realise it was a church. Surrounded by downtown buildings, it could easily have been mistaken for an ordinary office block. That was precisely what the renovation set out to change.

Rather than demolish the building entirely, architect Lew Dominy chose to give it a new visual identity while preserving the main structure. Several features were added, including a prominent bell tower, a sloping roof above the chapel, and skylights that allow natural light to pour in. Its courtyard opens directly onto the sidewalk, almost as an extension of the public space, while its small green chapel can be closed off from the rest of the building.

Together, these features give the church a distinctive character that is both spiritual and urban.