The Dunham, Hayden & Carrigan Building was built during the reconstruction of San Francisco after the 1906 Earthquake and Fire. It is an excellent example of mill construction, named for New England textile mills. Mill construction is framed with large, slow-burning timbers that retain structural integrity for a longer time in a fire, providing time to combat the flames and salvage goods.

The building originally contained a warehouse, offices and wholesale distribution facilities. The industrial design, with modest Classical Revival ornamentation, was typical for the period. Warehouses have always been generic and functional but façades were sometimes given decorative treatments to attract business, especially if the company sold finished goods. For Dunham, Carrigan & Hayden Company, the street presence and aesthetic appeal of the building suggested the quality of the company's products and the stability of its business.

Source: Adapted from San Francisco Landmark Designation Application for the Dunham, Hayden & Carrigan Building, approved by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on January 15, 2019.

When we photographed the building, it housed the San Francisco Design Center which is open to the public for browsing.