Respect Your Elders

Courtney McLeod Golden

December 10, 2013

We love buildings. We design new ones to push the envelope for function, materials and efficiency. But we also appreciate old buildings – they make up 80% of our urban landscape. We take great pride in preserving, rehabbing, adapting and upgrading well-loved buildings for future use. Here are some of our favorites:

Jennifer Costa, Project Manager & John Webre, Principal- in-Charge outside Fremont School, photo by Richard Rich

Fremont School – What happens when three of Sacramento’s major arts organizations operate under one roof in a beloved historic school? Magic…the sugar plum fairy kind.

The 3R’s of urban redevelopment – Restore, Repurpose, Revitalize – are giving the Sacramento Ballet, Sacramento Opera, and Sacramento Philharmonic a new home. The Fremont School will have new future as the E. Claire Raley Studios for the Performing Arts.

In 2006, the Sacramento Ballet, the Opera, and Philharmonic came up with a vision that would merge their creative and operational needs in one location.

With some TLC from Dreyfuss + Blackford, this historic 1920’s era landmark brick schoolhouse in Midtown will become a modern performing arts rehearsal and support facility; alive again through music, theatre and dance.

Recently, the E. Claire Raley Studios for the Performing Arts project has taken several key steps towards becoming a reality. Performing arts backers gain momentum in pursuit of Sacramento campus. Construction documentation is now complete and bids are being solicited so construction can start Summer 2014. Please support Sacramento’s arts organization efforts to bring the Fremont School back to life by attending local arts events.

Editorial: Arts center at Fremont School deserves rave reviews.

Julia Morgan House at 3731 T Street in Sacramento, photo by Brian Kellogg

Julia Morgan House at 3731 T Street in Sacramento, photo by Brian Kellogg

Julia Morgan House – We are upgrading this stately 1924 mansion designed by California’s first female architect, Julia Morgan, to preserve the best historic features while adding state of the art communication technologies for use as a conference center. This building is her namesake because of her importance to the fields of architecture and engineering. It was bequeathed to Sacramento State University in 1996.

Railyards Shops Buildings

Railroad Technology Museum – We are working with State Parks to stabilize and preserve two historic train shops in the Sacramento Railyards just north of downtown Sacramento. We will then insert a modern, interactive Museum of Railroad Technology to bridge the centuries.

Powerhouse Science CenterPowerhouse Science Center, rendering courtesy of Dreyfuss + Blackford Architects

Powerhouse Science Center – This classic 1912 power station, one of PG&E’s earliest structures, was designed by Willis Polk. The exterior will be painstakingly preserved for history, while the interior, and planned expansion spaces will become a state-of-the-art interactive education and learning center.

Vogel Chevrolet Showroom

Vogel Chevrolet Dealership: The Shop of VSP Our firm created a gleaming glass jewel box in 1959 for Vogel Chevrolet. Now, decades later, we are re-imagining this classic mid-century space as a think tank for Vision Service Plan.

For us, the old buildings in our community are every bit as interesting and important as the new ones.

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