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.

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.

Read more about the Preservation Design Awards
The ornate facade of Oaklands Paramount Theatre of the Arts, featuring colorful, geometric mosaic artwork with figures and patterns, under a clear blue sky; text overlay highlights craftsmanship and preservation.
A person’s hand touches a large, partially installed red and white geometric wall panel with circular holes, set against a metal framework at a construction site. Scaffolding and a yellow cable are visible.
A colorful mosaic on a wall.
Red and gold tiles cover a building facade, with sunlight and scaffolding casting shadows. In the background, several parked cars and some greenery are visible.
Close-up of a weathered metal door with missing paint, visible rust, and several round, bronze-colored rivets. Two holes and structural damage are present, emphasizing age and deterioration.
Red and white geometric wall panel with rounded corners, surrounded by yellow construction scaffolding. A cardboard box and some tools rest on a lower platform in the foreground.
A wall covered with maroon tiles, some of which are misaligned and uneven, creating an irregular pattern. A yellow scaffold and gray pipe are visible on the left side of the image.
Close-up of a wall made of maroon tiles with visible chips, cracks, and rough beige mortar between the tiles, showing signs of weathering and damage.
Close-up view of a mosaic wall featuring tan, brown, green, and blue tiles arranged in abstract shapes, with a pattern resembling an eye. Yellow construction scaffolding is visible on the right side.
A section of brown tile is damaged and peeling, revealing cracked, uneven surface and exposed material underneath, while surrounding tiles remain intact and glossy.
A worker on an orange lift repairs or inspects a tall building with large, colorful mosaic murals above the Paramount theater entrance under a clear blue sky.

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.