San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot
San Bernardino, California
Restoration, rehabilitation and adaptive reuse
San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot is a 1918 Mission Revival-style depot with Moorish influences. This 65,000 square foot structure, with a 330 foot long trackside arcade, was the second largest depot in California and served as the headquarters for Santa Fe’s West Coast operations, facilitating the shipment of passengers, goods, freight and materials from the east coast. Because San Bernardino was the first city seen by rail passengers traveling from points east, the depot was designed to impress visitors with California’s importance to a growing nation and was nicknamed the “Gateway to Southern California.” A few years after its opening, an extension was added that included a Harvey House and living quarters.
The San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot was initially identified as part of a citywide reconnaissance survey conducted in 1991. Following a $15.1 million rehabilitation, San Bernardino Depot now provides Metrolink services as well as SANBAG offices.
Completion Date: 2002
Client: City of San Bernardino
Architect of Record: Architect Milford Wayne Donaldson, FAIA
Awards / Recognition
California Preservation Foundation Design Awards (two)
Caltrans Excellence in Transportation Award