Tag: CPF

Fiddletown Project Wins CPF Preservation Design Award

The historic Chinese structures in Fiddletown has just been selected as a winning project for the Preservation Design Awards.

The General Store (left) and Gambling Hall (right) of Fiddletown. Photo by
The General Store (left) and Gambling Hall (right) of Fiddletown. Photo by Kelly Thomas

The California Preservation Foundation just selected the Fiddletown Project Team with a 2009 Preservation Design Award in the preservation category this week. The c. 1850 Chinese Gambling Hall and General Store are part of a grouping of four buildings specifically associated with Chinese miners from the Gold Rush. Along with the Chew Kee Herb Shop and a rammed earth residential structure nearby, these structures constitute a significant sub-district that reflects Chinese gold-era history. Both structures are National Register listed for their contributions to the assemblage of Gold Rush-era structures in Fiddletown, California.

Both the Gambling Hall and General Store are unreinforced masonry and stone buildings. While they have survived nearly 150-years, their overall condition was quite poor, requiring significant structural stabilization and seismic upgrading. Large cracks from seismic movement and settling were evident and visible in pictures dating back to the 1930s. Continue reading “Fiddletown Project Wins CPF Preservation Design Award”

Becky Urbano Joins CPF Education Committee

Becky Urbano, Garavaglia Architecture, Inc.’s Preservation Services Manager, joined the Education Committee of the California Preservation Foundation.

Garavaglia Architecture’s Becky Urbano officially joined the California Preservation Foundation (CPF)’s Education Committee last week. California Preservation Foundation is “a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of California’s diverse cultural and architectural heritage.” The Education Committee supports the educational mission of CPF and is responsible for proposing, developing content, and recruiting speakers for the annual work program of CPF workshops, Study Tours, and the Annual Conference study sessions and mobile workshops. Becky looks forward to supporting CPF’s mission and continuing her efforts with non-profit organizations. She has served as a board member with Sacred Sites International. See her bio (click on Becky Urbano) for more information on her professional endeavors.

Mike Garavaglia Vice President of Programs for CPF

The nomination of Garavaglia Architecture’s Principal Michael Garavaglia as the Vice President of Programs was confirmed at the 2009 Annual California Preservation Conference in Palm Springs. Mike has been on the board of trustees of the organization for many years and looks forward to serving the preservation community in his new capacity. Congratulations Mike!