our home
A School Within a National Park
Brightworks is nestled in the Presidio of San Francisco — 1,500 acres of forest, trails, ocean air, and open possibility. Our campus sits at the intersection of nature, creativity, and innovation, where students can learn, build, and explore in one of the most inspiring settings in the city.
Once occupied by the Ramaytush for thousands of years, then operating as a historic military outpost, the land the Presidio sits on has most recently iterated into a thriving community where the past and future coexist. Here in our building, it is where our students’ curiosity finds endless room to grow. With views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay, and the cypress-lined trails just steps away, Brightworks students are surrounded by landscapes that invite reflection, adventure, and a tangible sense of wonder.
Rooted in Place, Connected to Community
Our students are explorers not just of ideas, but of community. The Presidio’s proximity to San Francisco’s vibrant neighborhoods, cultural institutions, and natural landscapes offers endless opportunities for authentic learning partnerships — from working with the National Park Service to connecting with local artists, scientists, and makers.
At Brightworks, we don’t just teach students about the world — we teach them in it.
Learning Beyond Walls
At Brightworks, nature isn’t a backdrop — it’s part of the curriculum. The Presidio’s beaches, forests, and cultural landmarks serve as extensions of our classrooms. Students might conduct field studies along Crissy Field, create environmental art installations under the eucalyptus trees, or study ecology through direct observation.
Our location allows us to practice what we believe: that deep learning happens through engagement, movement, and connection with the world around us.
A Home for Innovation
Once a Presidio Cavalry Barracks, now an innovative school, our building has an interesting history. It was originally built in 1902, as barracks for the Coast Artillery Corps, it later housed Buffalo Soldiers at times, and was ultimately fully restored and updated in 2011. More recently, our building housed The Bay School and Hamlin School. Brightworks’ presence here is both symbolic and intentional: we are part of the Presidio’s evolution from a site of command and hierarchy to one of creativity, restoration, and shared stewardship.
Zooming to present day, Brightworks has reimagined this historic building to support creativity and collaboration, with a blend of historic architecture and modern design that mirrors the spirit of our program. Inside our buildings, you will find expansive light-filled studios, outdoor workspaces, and flexible learning areas that support the hands-on, project-based work we provide for every age.
From our innovation lab and school-wide gathering space, to our extensive wood shop and assembly space, we are afforded plenty of room to spread out for projects and come together in community.
This space is a reflection of our values and we’ve been the lucky ones to fill it with creativity, laughter and learning.
Visiting Brightworks
We love welcoming families to experience Brightworks in person.
📍 Location:
Brightworks School
682 Schofield Road, San Francisco, CA 94129
Located within the Presidio National Park
Parking:
Limited parking is available in the lot directly in front of our building, as well as in nearby lots down the hill adjacent to the stables.
Getting Here:
Brightworks is easily accessible from Highway 101. You can also reach us via MUNI (Presidio line) or the Presidio GO Shuttle, which connects to downtown transit hubs.
Accessibility:
Our campus and classrooms are fully accessible. If you have mobility needs or require additional assistance during your visit, please reach out in advance — we’re happy to help make your time on campus as smooth and welcoming as possible.
Explore the Presidio:
If time allows, plan to stay a while — grab a coffee at the Main Post, stroll to the marsh or Tunnel Tops, or enjoy a picnic with views of the bridge. You’ll quickly see why this place feels both grounding and alive — the perfect setting for Brightworks.
The Land
While we gather at Brightworks School, located within the Presidio, we concurrently gather on the unceded ethno-historic tribal territory of the original people of San Francisco: the Ramaytush, whom are the direct descendants of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area.
As a learning community and guests upon these occupied lands, Brightworks and its extended and immediate communities are committed to honor, uphold and respect the past, present and future of the Ramaytush-Ohlone people.
To learn more about the Presidio and its history, please visit:
Recent history about the building:
In 2011, the building was restored and awarded a gold certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
“Built in 1902, the two-story, wood-frame barracks received a complete rehabilitation. The building is not only designed "green," but looks the part as well with a new "living" roof planted atop a conference room. The outside walls are draped in bougainvillea, which provide an efficient and natural form of insulation. The building's interior features ornate, pressed metal ceilings, an unusual system of supporting beams, detailed cast-iron columns, fireplaces and mantels and the original staircase and railings, all of which were preserved during the rehabilitation, as was its stately facade.
“It served as home to the cavalry soldiers who trained at the Presidio in the early part of the century, before they shipped out to fight the war in the Philippines; and later to protect California's newly created national parks, Yosemite and Kings Canyon. In the years since the Army left the Presidio, the barracks has served as "swing space" for several San Francisco schools while their permanent buildings were being remodeled or constructed.”
See you in the trees!
