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 recast a historic Crissy Field Army Air Corps hangar as a state-of-the-art swimming facility tailored to young learners.

This premier swim school integrates historic aerospace attributes with the needs of a contemporary pool environment, including child-friendly features and spaces oriented to allow unimpeded observation. The facility features heated saltwater pools, youth locker and equipment rooms, office and support spaces, and a conditioned viewing area for guardians.

La Petite Baleen earned recognition as an adaptive reuse, including the California Heritage Council’s Preservation and Adaptive Reuse Award, the California Preservation Foundation’s Award for Large Rehabilitation, and the PCBC Gold Nugget Award of Merit.

The depths of the saltwater pools and the soaring trusses meet in the middle at this community-focused venue.

MEP Engineering: List Engineering

General Contractor: Centric Construction

Structural Engineer: KPFF

Photography by Ethan Kaplan

‍ ‍