In January 2008, spotlights illuminated the long dark Balboa Theatre bordering San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter Historic District– a 22-year effort returning the vaudeville-era theatre to its original 1924 splendor while transforming it into a state-of-the-art performing arts center. Under Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC), the landmark Balboa Theatre was renovated for $26.5 million as part of the Horton Plaza retail and commercial redevelopment, succeeding after numerous attempts to make it viable through private developers had failed. The project team consisted of CCDC in collaboration with Westlake Reed Leskosky, lead preservation architects and engineers, Heritage Architecture & Planning, associate architect/preservation consultant, Pfocus as owner’s representative, PCL Construction Services, Inc. as general contractor, and a team of engineers, theatre and restoration specialists. The Balboa Theatre was originally built for $800,000 by the Balboa Building Company, with William Wheeler as the design architect. The Balboa Theatre uniquely featured two elevated, recessed waterfalls flanking the proscenium opening. The auditorium chamber was described as a “glittering jewel box,” because of its bronze metallic powder paint. The ceiling includes ornate and gilded plaster grillwork that funnels sound throughout the building. One of the theatre’s unique performance-related features is its oversized orchestra pit accommodating 30 to 40 musicians. The theatre’s design provides it with excellent acoustical qualities for live, non-amplified performances. The Balboa Theatre Foundation restored a Wonder Morton Organ, one of only five of its kind in the nation, installed in the Balboa. The scope of the design and construction included the restoration of the entry rotunda and the entire audience chamber and balcony. New state-of-the-art mechanical, electrical, and performance systems such as rigging, lighting, and audio/visual technology including full variable acoustics were installed. Using a digital printing process, and based on a historic photograph, a new house curtain and grand drape valence were created in the style of the original. Lobby, box office, loading area, and public amenities were improved and expanded, and the long-missing exterior blade sign and entry marquee were accurately recreated and installed under the leadership of PCL Construction Services, Inc. Tight site constraints adjacent to Horton Plaza posed considerable challenges to renovating and expanding the 45,113 s.f. theatre. Modern requirements for staging, dressing rooms and support needed to fit entirely within the existing 5-story theatre building. Without the use of a freight elevator or ability to bring in a temporary crane due to limited space a temporary opening was made on top of the roof to install a 500 linear foot by 3 feet wide catwalk above the existing ornamental ceiling. Additionally, with a focus on coordination and an aggressive schedule, a wall to wall, floor to ceiling scaffolding was built within the theatre. Dulling oxidation, dirt, heavy tarnishing in the auditorium, dropped ceilings in the entry and over-painting in the lobbies had masked the 1924 appearance. Through forensic research, microscopy, and paint survey, PCL’s subcontractor, EverGreene Painting Studios was able to piece together the historic palette: a unique interior of brilliant colors, highlighted in bronze with soft shades of purple, turquoise, rose and ochre over an earth-toned ground. Drawing on scientific evidence paired with historic photos, and conserving original paint and plaster wherever possible, the original theme was replicated. Completed in several phases, and restored to The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Restoration, the work involved a lengthy yet rewarding interdisciplinary process that included peer review, ongoing-cost estimating and value engineering, allowing the project to stay within budget while continuing to move forward.

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For their fast, vigorous, brave, and precedent setting action against a developer attempting to sneak the ridiculously over-sized (two levels of underground parking!) Kensington Terrace project into the historic village of Kensington, the citizens of Kensington richly deserve an Orchid.

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The renovated (Stephen and Mary Birch) North Park Theater Building has helped provide a focal point for night life on University Avenue in North Park, and unify the existing cultural centers in the area. The developers and the city should be applauded for renovating this historical building rather than tearing it down.

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The historic interior was gutted. Not only gutted but done so as part of a speculative remodel with the space for rent. The new tenants might have loved the original interior and now it's lost to San Diego for good.

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An onion for not cashing my donation check to help rebuild the Villa Montezuma House. The early July check wasn't for much, so I also donated my music services for the cause(s). Anybody home? It is not only walking distance to Coronado Bridge but also to the Santa Fe Depot for historical reference and similar noisy projects that take away $$.

The other day, I picked up a San Diego Historical Society brochure at the Sante Fe Depot, posing as a tourist, and was surprised to find that the Villa Montezuma House was not even listed!! Why can't we fix America first, or San Diego, or even this particular historical site that already exists for a needed sense of culture? Luckily, I have a few friends, and not sure if the post office or the Friends of the Villa Montezuma House is still one of them. I am, though, still serious of my donation.... and, will add an onion if you call me at 619-463-7253. Hope the phone still works.

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While a creative land use as office condominiums, the project, built above an existing old building, is visually schizophrenic, with cheap looking corrugated steel rising above brick. If design commands top dollar, the space in this project ought to be available for a bargain. It`s not. The addition of the silver office condos looks like an overscaled HVAC unit dropped on an otherwise magnificent old brick warehouse building.

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Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the North Park Theatre has been reborn as a spectacular arts and entertainment venue. Built in 1928, the North Park Theatre stopped showing movies decades ago. Subsequently used for church services, the theater was purchased by the city in the late 1980s and had been vacant since 1989. Today, the theatre has been meticulously restored to Secretary of Interior standards while introducing modern amenities. It is the only theatre of its size in San Diego County (730 seats) that includes a movable orchestra pit, a fly loft, state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment and facilities for rehearsals and meetings. The theatre`s original seats have been fully restored along with the original art deco detail throughout. Restoration of the North Park Theatre represents the culmination of years of planning and dedication by North Park Main Street (the business association), the North Park community, the City of San Diego, developer Bud Fischer.

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Despite the fact that the land was worth more to scrape and re-build, Gordon chose to restore and preserve a historic Victorian home located on the corner of 4th and Maple by turning it into an exquisite Inn. The Inn is a perfect combination of historical preservation married with modern conveniences. The original colors have been restored with the help of SOHO. The gardens are a feast for the eyes. The entire exterior really livens the neighborhood. And the interior features an abundance of architectural details original to the building. Check out www.brittscrippsinn.com

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A fanastic renovation of the exterior facade, lighting, streetscape and interior. The U.S. Grant Hotel spent $52 million for a 21-month renovation. Many of the Hotel’s original structures and design elements have been restored, preserving the Hotel’s historic feel, while also bringing the Hotel into the 21st Century. It's the crown jewel of Broadway.

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This $75 million project included a significant renovation of the existing, 118,770-sf, six-story with a basement hotel into a chic, four-star boutique hotel with 166 guest rooms. The historic hotel, located in the heart of the Gaslamp District, was built in 1913 and designed by Frank P. Allen and William S. Hebbard. The renovation involved upgrading the existing gravity and lateral systems as well as structural modifications necessitated by new space usage, vertical transportation and open space requirements. At the basement level, a new ballroom and the nightclub space required the removal of columns and lowering of footings to create more open space. At the roof level, additional framing was required in order to support a new roof-top pool, bar, cabanas, function tent, and support space. The modification also required the addition of new framing and the strengthening of existing members. Other work included: the design of an indoor/outdoor restaurant and bar on the ground floor, canopies, roof elements, skylights, signage, pool-related items and stairs.

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