Medico-Dental Building, Office skyscraper in downtown San Diego, United States
The Medico-Dental Building is a 14-story office tower in downtown San Diego that rises above A Street and 3rd Avenue, with granite walls on its lowest three floors and brick above. The structure contains approximately 88,000 square feet of office space and 7,000 square feet of retail area distributed throughout its multiple levels.
The structure was built in 1927 on the former site of Alonzo Horton's second residence and was the tallest building in the city at that time. The land had previously housed the Academy of Our Lady of Peace, which was established by the Sisters of St. Joseph.
The building was originally designed to serve medical professionals, with dedicated spaces for doctors, dentists, a pharmacy on the ground floor, and a medical library. These specialized areas shaped the character of the lower levels and remain visible in the layout today.
The building is located at the corner of A Street and 3rd Avenue in downtown San Diego and is easily accessible by foot. Visitors should note that it is an active office building, so access to certain areas may be limited.
The site holds an often-overlooked history of religious use before its transformation into a commercial tower. The Sisters of St. Joseph originally owned the property and later sold it to Alonzo Horton, marking a shift from spiritual to secular purposes that shaped downtown development.
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