Bernal Heights Library – San Francisco CA

City:
San Francisco, CA

Site Type:
Education and Health, Libraries

New Deal Agencies:
Work Relief Programs, Public Works Funding, Federal Works Agency (FWA), Works Progress Administration (WPA)

Started:
1939

Completed:
1940

Designer:
Frederick H. Meyer

Quality of Information:
Very Good

Marked:
Yes

Site Survival:
Extant

Description

The beautiful Bernal Heights Library on Cortland Avenue in San Francisco was built in 1940 by the Works Projects Administration (WPA), after it had become part of the Federal Works Administration (FWA) in 1939.

The library is built of reinforced concrete and finished in Mission Revival style with stucco exterior and tile roof.  The interior features lofty ceilings, large windows, and lovely hanging light fixtures. The floors, entrance and bathrooms are all tiled and the ceiling beams are hand-painted in abstract designs.  

The shelving and furniture appear to be the original, made of solid oak, and the layout looks to be pretty much unchanged over the years.  

 

Source notes

Healy, Clyde, San Francisco Improved: Report of Clyde E. Healy, Assistant City Engineer, City of San Francisco and Coordinator of W.P.A. Projects, October 10, 1935 to August 31, 1939. San Francisco : [s.n.]., 1939.

 

Location Info


500 Cortland Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94110
San Francisco County

Coordinates: 37.738900, -122.41600

Site Details

Federal CostLocal CostTotal Cost
$27,639.00 $14,070.00 $41,709.00

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