AKA: "High School, South Pasadena, Cal. Marsh & Russell, Architects, Los Angeles, Cal." Inland Architect and News Record, vol. LI, no. 3, 1908-03

Structure Type: built works - public buildings - schools - high schools

Designers: Marsh and Russell, Architects (firm); Norman Foote Marsh (architect); Clarence H. Russell (architect)

Dates: constructed 1906-1907

3 stories

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South Pasadena, CA


Overview

This building attracted significant local interest, and was, according to the Los Angeles Times, "...regarded by educators as one of the best arranged in the country." (See "Classical Architecture Used in Designing New High School," Los Angeles Times, 09/06/1908, part V, p. 20.) Its success probably led to its architect, Norman Foote Marsh, obtaining the commission for the Glendale Union High School #2 in 1908. Marsh, in partnership and alone, would go on to design most of the primary civic buildings in South Pasadena during the first three decades of the twentieth century.

Building History

The City of South Pasadena established a solid reputation for its public schools, its first high school being no exception. Norman Foote Marsh, and his firm Marsh and Russell, designed this first High School building in 1906, and saw its completion by 04/1907. The City of South Pasadena, in its historic preservation context statement said of this education complex: "After several years of operating out of shared or rented facilities, a bond was passed in 1906 which authorized $65,000 for the construction of a new high school. However, construction was delayed when the San Francisco earthquake in 1906–along with the subsequent rebuilding efforts–inflated the cost of building materials. Voters were compelled to approve an additional $10,000 before construction could begin. Designed by the firm of Marsh & Russell, the three-story building was officially opened in April 1907. Additional buildings housing domestic science and manual training programs were added in 1912." (See City of South Pasadena and Historic Resources Group, Citywide Historic Context Statement, December 16, 2014, p. 134.)

Alteration

As at Glendale's Union High School #2, additional buildings for domestic science (for girls) and manual arts (for boys) were erected after a main high school block was constructed. In South Pasadena, these buildings flanked the main block and were executed in 1912. In Glendale construction of flanking pavilions occurred in 1915. Norman Foote Marsh designed all of these additions.

PCAD id: 20121