Bankers Hill
OH! San Diego 2025
About Bankers Hill
Bankers Hill, named for its historic association with affluent residents and grand mansions designed by renowned architects like Irving Gill during San Diego’s golden era, sits just west of Balboa Park. With convenient access via the iconic Cabrillo Bridge, this sought-after neighborhood offers stunning bay views, especially from its modern luxury high-rise condos.
Studio E Architects
ARCHITECTURAL FIRM
2258 First Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Self-Guided Tour: SAT 10am-4pm
HUB Location
Studio E Architects is located in an expansive space that was once a grocery store. The space is flooded with daylight from the large skylights within the exposed arched roof structure. Visit the studio and find out more about the design process for affordable housing that has been an integral part of their practice since 1987.
Architect/Designer: Tenant improvement by Studio E Architects
Irving Gill Walking Tour
HISTORIC BUILDINGS
2258 First Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Self-Guided Tour: None
Guided Tour: SAT 10am, 11:30am
Guided Tour Registration Required: Here
- Meet at Hub - Studio E Architects
Join a guided 1-hour tour, led by architect John Sheehan, of 14 historic buildings in the Bankers Hill neighborhood. All sites will have some link to early 20th Century architect Irving J. Gill - The Father of Modernism. Come be educated, entertained, and surprised by projects well-known and recently rediscovered. Walk-ups will only be available if the tour is not full. A map will be available for visitors who are unable to join the tour but would like to walk the route themselves.
Architect/Designer: Irving J. Gill
The Coulter House
RESIDENTIAL
3162 Second Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
Self-Guided Tour: SAT 10am-4pm
Guided Tour: SAT 11:00AM, 12:00PM, 2:00PM
Guided Tour Registration Required: Here
Note: Adults Only
In 1915, Lucy Coulter commissioned Panama-California Exposition architect Carleton Winslow Sr. to design a Spanish Colonial home in Bankers Hill. Her daughter, Hortense Coulter, a well-respected San Diego socialite and philanthropist, lived in the home until 1939. The home remained largely unchanged over the decades, aside from select updates made during its feature in San Diego Home & Garden’s 1985 Designer Showcase. As one of the few remaining examples of Winslow’s residential architecture, The Coulter House has been meticulously restored by its current owners, who invite you to experience its exquisite details and the timeless charm of a bygone era.
Architect/Designer: Carlelton Winslow Sr
St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral
RELIGIOUS
2728 Sixth Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
Self-Guided Tour: SAT 10am-4pm
St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral has had a presence in San Diego for 155 years, and in Bankers Hill for 97 years. The Cathedral campus sits on a full city block. There are three significant buildings on campus: the 1928 Great Hall, the original worship space for the congregation; the 1951 Cathedral Nave; and the 2022 525 Olive Tower and Dean's Courtyard. The Cathedral's architect, Philip Frohman, is significant as he was also the architect of the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.. The Cathedral has stained glass windows designed and maintained by the famous stained glass makers, Judson Studios, out of Pasadena, CA. The modern yet gothic architecture is impressive and harkens back to European cathedral designs.
Architect/Designer: Philip Frohman
Futuro Space in the Design Center: RDC Collaborative
ARCHITECTURAL FIRM
3605 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
Self-Guided Tour: SAT 10am-4pm
The Design Center & Futuro Space is constructed of primarily redwood and glass, a style reminiscent of many of Ruocco’s early designs. Its open floor plans and rectilinear structures are hallmarks of the California Modern style, a style he himself pioneered. The openness of design and extensive use of glass reflects Ruocco’s sensitivity for a built environment’s relationship with the outdoors – a trademark of some of his most notable designs. The Futuro Space, named after the iconic UFO-like “Futuro House” that inhabited the Design Center parking lot in the 1970s, is a collection of gathering spaces intended to reinvigorate the spirit of the original intent of the Design Center, to be a hub of creativity and innovation, a space where minds and ideas thrive.
Architect/Designer: Lloyd Ruocco
Futuro Space in the Design Center: McCullough Landscape Architecture
ARCHITECTURAL FIRM
3605-B Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
Self-Guided Tour: SAT 10am-4pm
McCullough Landscape Architecture office space lives within the The Design Center & Futuro Space, contributing to the creative environment inspired by the original purpose of the Design Center. The space fosters collaboration and innovation among various professionals and creatives, with an emphasis on design that connects to the surrounding natural landscape.
Architect/Designer: McCullough Landscape Architecture
Marston House Architectural Details Tour
HISTORIC MUSEUM
3525 7th Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
Guided Tour: SAT 12:30pm, 2:30pm
Guided Tour Registration Required: Here
BEEP Sketch: SAT 11am-1pm (no registration required)
Discover the 1905 Marston House inside and out. This 90-minute tour highlights architectural details, innovative features, and the Marston family story. The tour is partially wheelchair accessible, allowing visitors to explore and learn about the rich history and design of this historic home.
Architect/Designer: William Hebbard, Irving Gill and others
7th Ave Walking Tour
HISTORIC BUILDINGS
3525 7th Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
Guided Tour: SAT 10:30AM, 11:30AM
Guided Tour Registration Required: Here
Explore the 3500 block of Seventh Avenue, featuring early 1900s homes designed by architects Hebbard & Gill, including the Marston House. Learn about Irving Gill’s architectural evolution and progressive ideals reflected in his designs. The tour is ADA accessible, making it easy for all visitors to experience the architecture and history of the area.
Architect/Designer: William Hebbard, Irving Gill and others
Domusstudio Architecture
ARCHITECTURAL FIRM
2800 Third Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
Self-Guided Tour: SAT 10am-4pm
In 1963, renowned San Diego Modernist Homer Delawie designed the Brandon-Beaver Building. The office building was poised on the edge of Maple Canyon with prominent views across the historic 1911 First Avenue Bridge. In 2017, domusstudio renovated the building for their office, preserving the Mid-Century Modern architecture while adding windows and removing interior walls, opening up the views and connecting the canyon to the neighborhood. With the opening in December 2024 of the adjacent Olive Street Pocket Park, the neighborhood gained another valuable asset.
Architect/Designer: Homer Delawie (Original design), domusstudio (Renovation)
First Presbyterian Church of San Diego
RELIGIOUS
320 Date St, San Diego, CA 92101
Self-Guided Tour: SAT 10am-4pm
The sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church was built up on a sagebrush-covered hill overlooking downtown when members walked or commuted to church via horse-drawn carriages. It was so far out of town that some members worried attendance would decline. The 1912 vision of architect Robert H. Orr features amazing ornate trusses and two 25-foot tall stained glass windows depicting Christ and the Rich Young Ruler, as well as Christ the Sower (which was moved from the 1888 downtown location). The Casavant-Freres Organ boasts 101 ranks with over 5,000 pipes.
Architect/Designer: Robert H. Orr