The Opera House was designed by Arthur Brown Jr., the noted architect who also designed San Francisco City Hall, and G. Albert Lansburgh, a noted theater designer. Carey & Co. served as the historical architect to the Bureau of Architecture. The firm services began with an Historic Structure Report and continued through design and construction documents. When a fire damaged the interior during construction, Carey & Co. was retained to restore the burned opera box vestibules and the mezzanine promenade.