The Civic Center was built in the early 20th century after the earlier City Hall was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fire . Although the architect and urban planner Daniel Burnham had provided the city with plans for a neo-classical Civic Center shortly before the 1906 earthquake , his plans were never carried out . Burnham 's plan called for a large semi-circular plaza at the intersection of Market and Van Ness as a hub linking official buildings along spoked streets
1906 earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
Civic Center, San Francisco