20th Annual Celebration
This year the celebration was held May 10 in the Ballroom of the Lucie Stern Community Center. With moderator Jay Thorwaldson, our guest speakers, Malcom and Dean Clark, reminisced about their aunt, Dr. Esther Clark, founder of the Children's Health Council and donor of land for the Esther Clark park near her home. A slide show of family photos gave visual appeal to their thoughts. Several members of the audience also shared memories of Esther Clark.
After the program, plaques to were presented to owners of century–old homes and the afternoon concluded with the presentation of preservation awards to the four deserving projects highlighted below.
Pacific Art League
Rinconada Library
Forbes House, 564 University Avenue
323 University Avenue
Getting ready... bundt cake for every taste! PAST board member Hayley Stevens assisting at the name tag table Audience
2015 Commercial Rehabilitation and Restoration Award
Presented to:
Pacific Art League of Palo Alto, Owner
William Bruner, Architect
A. J. Miller & Associates, Structural Engineer
Oliver and Company, Contractor
for historic rehabilitation and restoration of three facades of the 1921 storefront and second and third story windows, walls and trim while providing seismic stabilization for the entire structure. A three story addition is stylistically respectful to the original without duplicating its features. Originally the building housed the owner's cabinet and furniture shop, showroom, and residence, and has housed the art studios and exhibition galleries for the Pacific Art League of Palo Alto (PALPA) since 1965. It is a Category 2 on the Palo Alto Historic Inventory.
2015 Community Character Preservation
Presented to:
City of Palo Alto, Owner
Group 4 Architecture, Research + Planning, Architect
Michael Garavaglia, Historic Architect
SJ Amoroso Construction, Contractor
for preserving the historical character of the original 1958 Edward Durell Stone building, while adding new space to expand and enhance the facility’s functionality as a modern library. Inspired by the geometry and materials of the historic building and landscape, the design of the expansion provides a vibrant, yet seamless experience for visitors.
2015 Commercial Preservation Award
Melanie Barry Properties, Owners
Hayes Group, Architect
Devcon, Contractor
for working from original Birge Clark drawings of this 1925 shop built by Wells P. Goodenough to reconstruct the ground floor frontage, including interior front and rear mezzanines, railings and stairway. The remaining arched windows, wood cornice, plaster, and clay tile roof were restored or upgraded and layers of paint were removed from the cornice to reveal the original carmine and cerulean blue that were matched for the final painting. This building represents a pivotal transition from Neo–Classical to Spanish Colonial style by Birge Clark and is a Category 2 on the Palo Alto Historic Inventory.
Circea 1985 photo: Note the Greg Brown mural on the building next door.
2015 Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Award:
Presented to:
RSR Capital, Owners
Garavaglia Architecture, Architect
Qualilty Construction by VM, Contractor
Slava Komov, Construction Manager
for rehabilitation and reconstruction of the 1904 Colonial Revival style Thomas Forbes house that served as both a single–family residence and a rooming house convenient to the University Avenue streetcar line. The house was restored to its original appearance using the original materials from deconstruction, thus preserving the history of the last remaining residential structure in the University Avenue commercial district. It is a Category 2 on the Palo Alto Historic Inventory.
Before photo: circa 1985
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