Historical Significance
When the Pacific Press came to Mountain View from Oakland in
1904, it became the city's first major industry. The press, which
was owned and operated by members of the Seventh Day Adventist
Church, brought with it over 100 families who then built up the
neighborhood along Mountain View, Palo Alto, and Pettis Avenues.
Main Building - 1907
The sudden influx of dozens of new residents was quite a change
for the Mountain View. With a city government that was only two
years old and a population of only 600, the arrival of the press
was quite a big step. The portion of the city northwest of Bailey
Avenue (now Shoreline Boulevard) became a Seventh Day Adventist
enclave, and remained so until the 1980s. All but the oldest historic
homes in the area were built for or by members of this community.
Main Building, after Mission style remodel - 1948
A devastating blow came to the Pacific Press when its two year
old publishing plant on Villa Street was destroyed by the great
San Francisco earthquake of 1906. A new more modest one story
plant was built the following year. This building still stands
today, albeit heavily remodeled in 1948 to its current Spanish
style.
Main Building - 2003
In 1984 the Press decided to move out of state. The future of
its campus remained uncertain. However, the developers which redeveloped
the property carefully integrated the new and old, and decided
to preserve many of the buildings and landscape features of the
campus.
Auditorium Building - 1948
Auditorium Building-2003
A unique gate with the PP & cross emblym of Pacific Press
and a historic street lamp.
The historic main building was retained, as well as the large
Auditorium building built in 1948. Historic street lights, wrought
iron fencing, and trees were maintained. Two new buildings in
a style that blends into the Mission style of the original buildings
were also added, as well as a park-like entry from Villa Street
with a large fountain and plaque commemorating the press.
Today the campus stands as an excellent example of combining
the old and the new through adaptive reuse. The developers could
have easily razed the entire property, wiping away a significant
chunk of Mountain View's history. Instead, with some creativity
and care, they created perhaps the most pleasant and certainty
the most historic office park in the entire city.
Fountain and new Building - added in 1980s.
