About CPF and the Awards

The California Preservation Awards are a statewide hallmark, showcasing the best in historic preservation. The awards ceremony includes the presentation of the Preservation Design Awards and the President’s Awards, bringing together hundreds of people each year to share and celebrate excellence in preservation.

The California Preservation Foundation (CPF), a 501c3 nonprofit, was incorporated in 1978. We now support a national network of more than 30,000 members and supporters. Click here to learn how you can become a member.

Courthouse Project Team

Project Lead or Principal
Hualin Hsu-Wingard – OC Parks

Client or Owner Firm/Organization Name
Flynt Bradley – OC Parks

Lead Architect, Engineer, or Designer Address
John Lesak – Page & Turnbull, Inc.

Photographer
James Sanderson Visual Communications

Old Orange County Courthouse Rehabilitation

Old Orange County Courthouse Rehabilitation is a winner for the 2021 Preservation Design Award for Preservation or Restoration. 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/awards.

About Old Orange County Courthouse Rehabilitation

The Old Orange County Courthouse Rehabilitation Project included the maintenance and repair of the building’s exterior in a multi-phase project taking almost five years. Following the failure of a stone corbel, an investigative phase was initiated by a preservation architect. Survey of the building identified flaking stone surfaces, cracking and spalled stone and concrete, inadequate reinforcing at window transom stones, and deteriorated decorative friezes. Additionally, laboratory analysis of Arizona sandstone and concrete was completed, and trial repairs and mock-ups were completed during preparation of the bid documents. Scope of work included repairing and repainting of all the historic wood windows, replacing wood windowsills, strengthening the transom stone between windows on the third floor; securing and patching the sandstone facade, repair of the protruding concrete bond beam, patching and repainting the plastered gable; cleaning sandstone and granite, and replacing copper roofing and drain at a decorative stone balcony.

Featured Image Courtesy James Sanderson Visual Communications