Torpedo Assembly Building, Eastern end of Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA

Significance: Building 262 has been determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places at the state level of significance under Criteria A and C, in the areas of military history and architecture. Its period of significance extends from 1891 through 1960. The Torpedo Assembly Building is the only extant building that signifies and commemorates nearly a half-century of Army presence on this Island. The building is also significant as a very early reinforced concrete building and as the "work of a Master," Earnest L. Ransome, who was among the most important 19th century reinforced concrete engineers working in the United States. He designed the first reinforced concrete bridge in the world, the Alvord Lake Bridge in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. The building is also highly significant because it is almost completely unmodified. The reinforced concrete walls and their patented ashlar-like appearance, and minor elements, such as the windows and interior railroad tracks still exist.
Survey number: HAER CA-232
Building/structure dates: 1891 Initial Construction