Breathing new life into an old haunt

Overview

Building #19 was originally built in 1942 as part of the World War II effort. It is a contributor to the General Engineering & Dry Dock historic district. This building is one of five within Alameda Marina that has been preserved and has played a crucial part in the ship building and war effort in the 1940s. Ship building and repair yards of the Bay Area were hives of activity focused on supporting the active war efforts in the Pacific.

Building 19 was the key central hub for activity at the Marina. Its overall size within the marina communicated its importance within the shipyard and expressed the power of American ship building during World War II. The primary focus of the building was a building for machining mechanical parts for building or repairs of small to mid-sized ships, as well as the production of critical rigging for these ships. 

The Machine Shop was primarily housed on the ground floor of the building. Due to the size and weight of many of the machined ship parts, two large gantry cranes that ran on the tracks, were suspended above the work area for workers to easily move these parts around the floor. 

Above in the long “loft” was where workers focused on the production of critical rigging for these ships. Thus, the name “Rigger’s Loft”. This building was likely designed by Alben Froberg (1890-1968), a UC Berkeley educated, and Oakland based architect who was best known for his work on Connell GMC Pontiac Cadillac on Broadway.

The building, which has been historically retrofitted, will now house the expansion of Ghost Town Brewery. Ghost Town is a local Oakland brewery that started back in 2012 and Building #19 at Alameda Marina will be their main headquarters. The building will house a 20,000sf tank farm, bottling facility, cold storage as well as an expansive taproom and full restaurant. The restaurant will seat approximately 200 guests and opens to a 3,000sf outdoor patio which faces the waterfront.