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The 2023 Design Awards Event

Two people walk through a modern art gallery with high ceilings, exposed beams, a mezzanine level, and artwork displayed on white walls. Natural light streams in from large windows above a central staircase.

For 2023, we’re celebrating 16 award winning projects at the historic Fort Mason Center for the Arts & Culture in the Cowell Theatre, preceded by a special social event in the stunning Design Award-winning Pier 2 Atrium.

We’re celebrating four years of the Preservation Design Awards at this special opportunity for winning teams and conference-goers. Wines will be split into six groups, tied to winning projects from all four years. There will be some surprises, a silent auction, and food and drink served.

Bridgeport Covered Bridge Team

Architect
Gil de la Pena – CA State Parks (Design Phase)
Shelly Dildey – CA State Parks (Construction phase)

Structural Engineer
Larry Jones, S.E. – Buehler, Inc.
Doug Gadow, S.E. – Linchpin (Historic)
Michael Krakower, S.E. – Krakower & Associates (Historic)

Civil Engineer
Andy Sutter – CA State Parks

Project Historian
Michael Jasinski – CA State Parks

Construction Manager
Rod Tuttle – CA State Parks

Project Manager
Mike Brown – CA State Parks

Master Bridgewright
Tim Andrews – Barns & Bridges of New England

Consulting Engineer
Ted Peet, PE – Smith-Emery Laboratories, Inc.

Historic Preservation Consultant
Ean Frank – Spectra Company

Specialty Sub-Contractor(s)
William Scott – Syblon Reid

Additional Participant(s)
Larry Collins – FCP

Frank Towse – Skyline Scaffoling Inc

Bill Caswell  – President of the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges

Bridgeport Covered Bridge

Bridgeport Covered Bridge is a winner for the 2023 Preservation Design Award for Craftsmanship/Preservation Technology. Award recipients are selected by a jury of top professionals in the fields of architecture, engineering, planning, and history, as well as renowned architecture critics and journalists. Tickets and sponsorship options are available at californiapreservation.org/programs/awards/.

Read more about the Preservation Design Awards
Aerial view of the wooden Bridgeport Covered Bridge spanning a forested river. Text overlay announces its 2023 Preservation Design Award for Craftsmanship/Preservation Technology from the California Preservation Foundation.
Aerial view of two bridges crossing a river in a forested valley; the nearer bridge is wooden and under construction, while the farther one is modern and complete. Lush trees and hills surround the scene.
A covered wooden bridge with a shingled roof stretches over a rocky river, surrounded by trees and natural greenery. The photo is taken from above, highlighting the bridge’s structure and the clear water below.
A man standing on a wood beam.
Aerial view of a covered wooden bridge crossing a river surrounded by trees, with a road, parking lot, and buildings nearby. The riverbank is rocky and the water appears shallow.
A wooden covered bridge spans a rocky river, surrounded by hills covered in green trees and shrubs under a clear blue sky.
Construction workers in safety vests and helmets work on a wooden bridge structure surrounded by scaffolding and trees, with ladders and building materials visible.
Close-up of a wooden bridge under construction, showing structural beams and supports, with tools, cables, and construction materials on a temporary walkway; forested hillside in the background.
Large plastic tanks hang from the underside of a bridge above a shallow river, surrounded by trees and greenery under a clear blue sky. The tanks are suspended by yellow straps over the water.

About Bridgeport Covered Bridge

The Bridgeport Covered Bridge, located in South Yuba River State Park, is the longest remaining wooden covered bridge in the world.  It was built in 1862 by David Wood after the original bridge washed away the year before.

The design combines a Howe Truss with a Burr Arch.  The connection of the Burr Arch spanning from concrete buttresses on either side of the river to the Howe Truss, created a symbiotic structural relationship that allowed for a longer, more stable span.

The wood had deteriorated over time with significant damage due to heavy flooding both in 1971 and 1997.  It was closed to visitors in 2011 due to the compromised structural integrity.

The project included raising the bridge on new abutments to mitigate flood damage, in situ replacement of deteriorated wood in kind.  Existing iron and steel hardware was restored while new hidden moment frames and steel stiffeners were added.

About CPF and the Awards

Held in conjunction with CPF’s 2026 Annual Conference in Riverside, the 2026 Mission Inn Preservation Design Awards Ceremony and Reception will spotlight excellence in historic preservation in a setting that reflects the very spirit of the work being honored. This special evening brings together award recipients, conference participants, preservation leaders, and supporters from across California to celebrate outstanding preservation projects and leadership through the Preservation Design Awards and President’s Awards.

Founded in 1978, the California Preservation Foundation (CPF) is California’s statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection of historic places and cultural heritage. Through education, advocacy, and community-centered programs, CPF supports the people, projects, and policies that keep California’s historic resources vital and valued. We now support a national network of more than 36,000 members and supporters. Click here to learn how you can become a member.