Campus Map, Directions & Parking

Marin Academy is situated on a ten-acre, 115-year old campus of a former military school in San Rafael.

The campus facilities include a library, a science and innovation center, a theater, a visual arts center, a music and dance building, two gymnasiums, a swimming pool, and an all-weather synthetic playing field.

Directions to Marin Academy
Parking Information

Directions to Marin Academy

Directions from Southern Marin/San Francisco

From Highway 101 North, exit at Central San Rafael.
Continue on Irwin Street and make a left on Fifth Avenue.
Continue on Fifth approximately one mile to Cottage Street, between E and F Streets.
Turn right on Cottage.
The Bodie Brizendine Leadership Center (Attendance Office, Dean of Students' office, and Head of School's office), the Theater, and Founders Hall (College Counseling and the Academic Deans' office) are located on Cottage Avenue between Fifth and Mission.
Continue across Mission Avenue to Foster Hall (Admissions is on the first floor, Communications is on the second floor, and the Business and Advancement Offices are on the third floor) and athletic events.

Directions from Northern Marin/Sonoma/Napa

Same directions as above; the exit from Highway 101 South is also called Central San Rafael.

Directions from East Bay

Take the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge to Marin County.
Merge onto Highway 101.
Take the next exit at Central San Rafael and follow the directions above.

Parking Information

All on-campus parking regulations are actively enforced by the San Rafael Police Department and all fines are imposed and collected by them. All campus roads are considered fire lanes and should be kept clear for emergency vehicles. The average fine imposed by the city if cited is $150, and you could also be towed. The campus speed limit is 10 mph.

Neighborhood Parking Restrictions

Students and school employees are prohibited from parking on residential streets north of Mission Avenue. This restriction is part of the school’s use permit with the City of San Rafael.

Staff Parking

The upper parking lot, adjacent to the swimming pool, is available from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m, Monday through Friday and for all major school sanctioned events. This parking lot is to remain locked at all other times. The majority of the parking spaces are for employee use, with the exception of several designated student spaces, which are assigned by the School. Parking in the upper lot is provided on a first come basis. If you enter or exit the parking lot after hours please lock the post.

Student Parking
Marin Academy strongly encourages all families to create carpools for transporting students to and from school. A carpool is defined as the driver plus two or more passengers. Priority will be given to the largest carpools. Carpools reduce the number of cars traveling to and from campus, reduce congestion on local streets, and model sustainable, responsible behavior for all members of our community. Student addresses can be found through the school directory at MyMA to assist with forming carpools.

Visitor Parking

There are no visitor parking spaces on campus. MA also owns a parking lot at 1515 5th Avenue, and spaces within this lot are available on a first come, first served basis. If there is no parking available on campus or in MA's parking lot, there are a number of metered parking options available in San Rafael, south of Mission Avenue. Please note that parking is prohibited north of Mission Avenue in the residential areas.

Extended Parking

Please do not leave your vehicle on campus for extended periods without prior authorization from Hayden Hicks. Construction work often takes place while school is not in session, and it is paramount that this work not be impeded. Vehicles left on site for extended periods without authorization may be towed and stored at the owner’s expense.

Map Key

1. Library

The Marin Academy library was built in 2005 and was formally opened as the school library in 2008. The library currently holds over 16,000 volumes, 70 magazine subscriptions, 14 Macs, a Library Seminar Room with dedicated projectors and 20 laptops, and a silent study room. The library is an academic center for the MA community and, as a true 21st century library, acts as a social hub as well. The first book added to the MA library was Oh, the Places You'll Go.

All classrooms are equipped with SMART Technology and a dedicated video projector.

Space Details

Lib Room 202: 990 sq. ft. physics classroom
Lib Room 203: 567 sq. ft. classroom
Lib Room 205: 510 sq. ft. classroom
Lib Room 206: 510 sq. ft. classroom
Lib Room 207: 510 sq. ft. classroom
Lib Room 210: 510 sq. ft. classroom
Lib Room 211: 510 sq. ft. classroom
Lib Room 212: 510 sq. ft. classroom
Lib Room 213: 510 sq. ft. classroom

2. Bodie Brizendine Leadership Center

The Bodie Brizendine Leadership Center was originally built in the 1920s and was an admistration building. During the 2006-2007 school year, it was remodeled and renamed after the past Head of School Bodie Brizendine. The BBLC also houses the MA Café dining facility as well as offices and classrooms. Each classroom is also equipped with SMART Technology and a a dedicated video projector.

Space Details

BBLC Lecture Hall: 1,350 sq. ft. lecture hall with 97 fixed, theater-style seats
MA Café: 2,650 sq. ft. dining hall facility with tables and chairs for 185; maximum occupancy is 264 persons
Café Plaza: 2,430 sq. ft. outdoor plaza and courtyard connects Library and BBLC buildings
Conference Room 210: 350 sq. ft. conference room equipped with 4' x 10' table, chairs, and dedicated screen/video projector
BBLC Room 109: 459 sq. ft. classroom
BBLC Room 208: 546 sq. ft. classroom
BBLC Room 209: 546 sq. ft. classroom
BBLC Room 211: 688 sq. ft. classroom
BBLC Room 214: 546 sq. ft. classroom

3. Performing Arts Center

The Performing Arts Center, opened in 2001, consists of a Main Stage Theater, Black Box Theater (which serves both as a classroom and an intimate performance space), practice rooms, a chamber music room, ensemble music room, a box office, green room, office, and scene shop. With its state-of-the-art light, sound, and projection technology and equipment, the Performing Arts Center is a professional-level, fully equipped and complete performance space for all performing arts events.

Space Details

Theater: 4,250 sq. ft. with seating capacity of 230; equipped w/ tech booth and dedicated video projector/screen/sound system
Black Box: 1,156 sq. ft.; serves as a classroom and an intimate performance space
PAC Room 205: 411 sq. ft. music ensemble room

4. Music and Dance Studios

The Studio Building, across the courtyard from the Performing Arts Center, houses the Music Studio, complete with a state-of-the-art recording studio, and the Dance Studio, with its beautiful, natural light and regulation sprung floor.

Space Details

PAC Room 115: 825 sq. ft. music recording studio
Dance Studio: 1,313 sq. ft. with abundant natural light and regulation sprung floor
PAC Plaza: 2,106 sq. ft. open-air plaza connects the main theater building with the studios building

5. Founders Hall

Founders Hall originally served as a dormitory for San Rafael Military Academy's Senior class. During the 1997-1998 school year Founders Hall's interior was remodeled and it opened its doors to two computer labs, faculty and staff offices, and several classrooms. Each classroom is also equipped with SMART Technology and a dedicated video projector.

Space Details

Founders Lecture Hall: 1,216 sq. ft. lecture hall with 83 fixed, theater-style seats; equipped w/ SMART Technology and dedicated video projector.
Founders Room 200: 588 sq. ft. classroom
Founders Room 201: 619 sq. ft. classroom
Founders Room 205: 611 sq. ft. classroom

6. Visual Arts Center

Completed in January 2003, the Visual Arts Center's spacious and airy quality of the facilities creates the atmosphere of professional art studios. The studios have excellent light exposure and UV balanced full spectrum fluorescent lighting. Included in the facility are three studio spaces designed to accommodate Visual Arts One, Ceramics, Drawing and Painting, and Photography.

Space Details

VAC Room 102: 429 sq. ft. classroom
VAC Room 108: 1,174 sq. ft. draw/paint studio
VAC Room 110: 910 sq. ft. ceramics classroom
VAC Room 112: 689 sq. ft. photography classroom
VAC Plaza: 4,086 sq. ft. open-air plaza and courtyard connects the two wings of the Visual Arts Center

Our state of the art facilities include:

A ceramics studio complete with 12 electric potters’ wheels, slab roller, coil extruder and 2 large Skutt automatic electric kilns
A drawing and painting studio equipped with professional quality painting and drawing easels and drafting tables to accommodate 18 students
A printing press for students to explore monotype and linoleum block printmaking
A draw/paint studio with north light for accurate color perception when painting
18 digital workstations with Adobe Photoshop CS3, 6 archival quality printers, 2 slide negative scanners and 1 flatbed scanner
A fully equipped darkroom with 16 enlargers, 2 temperature controlled sinks and a powerful ventilation system

7. Thacher Hall

Thacher Hall is a science facility that opened in the early 1990s. Each of its four science labs/classrooms is equipped with SMART Technology and a dedicated video projector.

Space Details

Thacher Room 101: 900 sq. ft. science lab/classroom
Thacher Room 104: 740 sq. ft. science lab/classroom
Thacher Room 201: 1,005 sq. ft. science lab/classroom
Thacher Room 204: 810 sq. ft. science lab/classroom
Thacher Porch: 960 sq. ft. covered outdoor area between Thacher Hall and MA Circle Drive

8. Championship Field

The state-of-the-art turf athletic field opened for use in September 2007. The existing field was replaced with a 2 1/2-inch thick monofilament all-season playing surface made using recycled material. With the replacement of the grass baseball diamond, the playing area was increased to 100,000 square feet. This increase allowed for a wider playing surface and an additional practice area to the side of the main field. Additional improvements included:

Added tiered spectator seating at the west end of the field
Replaced original fencing; increasing the height from 6 feet to 8 feet
Added netting behind the east goal and the north practice area for easier ball retrieval
Added additional fencing for increased safety and security
Improved landscaping

9. The Science + Innovation Center, Wellness Center and Athletic Training Clinic

Formerly known as the Student Center Plaza (an outdoor courtyard that was used for student, parent, and community events), this location is now the site of our new Science + Innovation Center, which was recently certified Platinum LEED. LEED is a national certification system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council to encourage the construction of energy and resource-efficient buildings that are healthy places in which to work and live. Marin Academy is proud of our commitment to reduce our environmental impact and to receive this distinction.

10. Foster Hall

Foster Hall is the oldest building on campus. Built in the Italianate style in 1871 by the O'Connor family, the building was the first building acquired by San Rafael Military Academy. When Marin Academy started in 1972, some faculty and staff lived in Foster Hall. In 1994, Foster Hall was remodeled and given a retrofit, and in the late 1990s the third floor was remodeled and was opened for administrative offices. The building has three classrooms, all equipped with SMART Technology and a dedicated video projector.

Space Details

Foster Room 1: 713 sq. ft. classroom
Foster Room 2: 624 sq. ft. classroom
Foster Room 3: 728 sq. ft. classroom
Foster Hall Porch: 12' x 72' covered porch on south (front) end of Foster Hall

11. Annex

12. Athletic Center (Main Gym)

13. Gymnasium (Old Gym)

14. Swimming Pool

15. MA Garden

The MA garden is a green space where students learn how to plan, build, prepare, plant, nurture, maintain and sustain a garden. The MA garden acts as a contemplative space for students as well as a experiential classroom for biology and our Honors Garden Stewardship class.

The Garden Committee works to create and maintain a highly productive organic garden that will support the MA cafeteria, compost MA’s food, grow delicious crops, and provide a beautiful and natural getaway for MA students.

We have completed extensive construction that includes fully-functioning irrigation and drainage systems, four raised beds, and a large set of compost bins created from pieces of concrete that were found on-site and mortared together. We have planted a small fruit orchard that includes apple, pear, and nectarine trees. While learning the art of masonry, we created a circular stone herb garden and we built a patio that can be used by students and teachers while conducting classes or simply as a place to relax. Among the many plants grown in the garden are lettuces, spinach, kale, squash, corn, eggplant, pumpkins, tomatoes, tomatillas, peas, beans, sunflowers, and many types of herbs. We have an extensive patch of native raspberries.

16. Maintenance Shop

A left hook of feedback from Mary Collie during English class may change up your plan. But, what makes MA so special is the faculty’s willingness to pick you back up and help adjust your plan.

Miles Kelly '18, Alumnus