Point Fermin Marine Science STEAM Magnet - San Pedro CA

City:: San Pedro, CA
Site Type:: Schools, Education and Health
New Deal Agencies:: Public Works Administration (PWA), Public Works Funding
Started:: 1935
Completed:: 1936
Designers:: Paul J. Duncan, S. B. Barnes
Contractors:: Contracting Engineers Inc, Pacific Realty & Building Company
Quality of Information:: Very Good
Marked:: No
Site Survival:: Extant

Description

Following the 1933 Long Beach earthquake, Point Fermin Elementary School in San Pedro, CA was rebuilt with funding from the Public Works Administration (PWA). Construction totaled $79,529 and was completed 1935-36. Few alterations appear to have been made to the school’s exterior since the New Deal. Today, Point Fermin Elementary is a Marine Science STEAM Magnet.

Pacific Realty & Building Company reconstructed the 1919 and 1924 sections of the main building in 1935. The following year, the auditorium was reconstructed by Contracting Engineers Inc according to designs by architect Paul J. Duncan. Located at the corner of S Kerckhoff Ave and W 34th St, the auditorium—and the rest of campus—combine elements of PWA Moderne and Mission Revival styles (note the archways and tiled roof).

The reconstruction and renovation of Los Angeles schools damaged by the 1933 Long Beach earthquake was the single largest PWA funded program in the country, totaling ~$34.7 million (LA Times, May 23, 1937). It was overseen by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and proceeded in two cycles, 1934-35 and 1935-37.

The first cycle began in Spring 1934, lasted 21 months, included over 130 schools, cost ~$10,000,000 (30% funded by PWA grants), and employed ~3,000 workers. The second cycle began in December 1935, lasted 17 months, included 518 additional projects, cost $22,532,727 (45% funded by PWA grants) and employed up to 6,500 workers. The rest of the funds were provided by the sale of LAUSD bonds passed in March 1931 and November 1935.

The school-rebuilding program was widely praised. As the Los Angeles Times declared, “…the Los Angeles coastal basin [will gain] a revamped, modernized and otherwise perfected system of public school structures worthy of consideration and emulation throughout the world” (LA Times, Apr 7, 1935).

Los Angeles area school renovations included “…auditoriums, classroom buildings, gymnasiums, cafeterias, bungalows and administration offices [as well as] landscaping, grading, retaining walls and fresh paint. Strengthening of all schools against earthquake damage is a major factor in the program, with trained inspectors watching every unit of construction” (LA Times, Aug 23, 1936).