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 36,000 members and supporters. Click here to learn how you can become a member.

Paramount Theatre Team

Project Lead– Jeff Chen, McGinnis Chen Associates

Client/Owner – Leslee Stewart, General Manager

Lead Architect – Jacqui Hogans, Project Manager

Construction Manager – Ed Donnelly, Omega Construction Management

Contractor – Michael Courtney, Giampolini Courtney

Specialty / Sub-Contractor – Jim Rizzo, NeonWorks

Consulting Engineer – Patrick Buscovich, Patrick Buscovich and Associates

Specialty / Sub-Contractor – Greg King, NeonKing

Paramount Theatre

The Paramount Theatre of Oakland is a winner for the 2022 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/awards.

About the Paramount Theatre Project

A comprehensive rehabilitation of the street-facing elevations, including detailed restoration of the Mosaics and bracketing terra cotta units, seismic enhancement, and refurbishment of the neon Blade Sign.

The initial project scope consisted solely of a facade survey in Spring 2018 to ascertain the condition of the terra cotta mosaics. As nearly twenty years had passed since the previous facade repair program, the Board of Directors was interested in creating a capital improvement plan for the building’s facade. It was determined that while much of the mosaic was in excellent condition;in part due to the excellent condition of the building’s envelope–ultraviolet degradation of previous repairs, as well as spalling of the chevron-shaped tiles flanking the mosaics, had negatively impacted the appearance of the facade. Thus, a restoration program began in Winter 2019, the objective of which was to repair and stabilize the terra cotta facade, and to restore the blade sign between the mosaics. The project was completed in the Fall of 2020.