San Diego has always had a deep, unspoken bond with the U.S. Navy. The city is home to one of the largest military concentrations in the country, and just across the bay in Coronado, every Navy SEAL is forged. So when the Navy SEAL Museum San Diego opened its doors on October 4, 2025, at 1001 Kettner Blvd, steps from the Embarcadero, it felt less like a ribbon cutting and more like a homecoming. But that was just the beginning.
In April 2026, the Port of San Diego Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to advance an environmental review for a far more ambitious vision: a striking, $256 million, four-story, 85,000-square-foot flagship museum at 1220 Pacific Highway, positioned at the northern edge of Lane Field Park along Harbor Drive. The vote was unanimous, and the enthusiasm in the room was hard to miss. “I predict that this is going to be the No. 1 museum in San Diego,” said Commissioner Frank Urtasun. “That design that you came up with is unbelievable. I love it.”
Designer: ZGF Architects
The design, by US-based ZGF Architects, is nothing short of striking. The structure draws direct inspiration from stealth watercraft used by maritime special forces, with angular massing and faceted metal surfaces that give it the appearance of a futuristic ship cutting through open water. Perforated metallic panels will filter natural light into the interior, where immersive, technology-forward exhibits designed by Gallagher & Associates will bring the history of the SEALs to life across seven distinct galleries…