Cushman & Wakefield has been retained to sell the historic San Francisco Art Institute campus at 800 Chestnut Street in one of the city’s largest offerings of private property for several years.

The property includes education structures that are designated designated as ‘City Landmark #85’ and an original 1931 Diego Rivera mural.

Cushman & Wakefield Executive managing director Tom Christian and associate vice-president Tim Garlick who is based in the firm’s San Francisco office, are leading the property marketing and sales effort.

Built to a design by architects Blakewell and Brown in 1926, the original structure features an iconic bell tower, interior courtyard, Anne Bremer library, classrooms, galleries, and offices.

Added in 1968, the education structures – two buildings totaling approximately 93,000 square feet, were designed by Pafford Keatinge-Clay and include a rooftop amphitheater, interior theater, galleries, studios, and vast plazas with panoramic views.

The buildings occupy a site totaling just under 1.75 acres.

[A] very special landmark property

Christian describes the art institute as “a very special landmark property” and believes it will be particularly suited to another cultural or educational institution, including a museum, gallery, university campus or, indeed, any organization that is on an “innovative” mission.