San Francisco, CA

La Petite Baleen, a premier swim school for children, is located in the heart of San Francisco’s Presidio. This 9,945-square-foot project transformed one of the original Crissy Field historic Army Air Corps hangars into a state-of-the-art swimming facility tailored to the needs of young learners.

The facility features two heated saltwater pools, child-friendly locker rooms, an air-conditioned viewing area for parents, offices, equipment rooms, and support spaces. The design expertly blends modern functionality with historic preservation, creating an inviting and educational environment.

La Petite Baleen's adaptive reuse project has earned prestigious recognition, including the California Heritage Council’s California Preservation and Adaptive Re-use Award, the California Preservation Foundation’s Award for Large Rehabilitation, and the Pacific Coast Builders Conference Gold Nugget Award of Merit. This innovative project highlights the successful integration of historic architecture with contemporary design for community-focused use.

Photography: Ethan Kaplan MEP Engineering: List Engineering General Contractor: Centric Construction Structural Engineer: KPFF