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.
Our Lady of the Rosary Project Team
Entrant
Abi Gruenke – Conrad Schmitt Studios
Project Lead or Principal
Rick Statz – Conrad Schmitt Studios
Client or Owner Firm/Organization Name
Tabigue Joseph – Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church
Lead Architect, Engineer, or Designer Address
Rick Statz – Conrad Schmitt Studios
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church is a winner for the 2021 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 Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church
Our Lady of the Rosary Church in San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood was originally designed to inspire and uplift the faithful with beautiful murals, stained glass windows, gilding, trompe l’oeil and other decorative details. Over nearly a century of use, the interior was re-painted several times as wear-and-tear took its toll on the detailed finishes. Once-vibrant murals design by renowned Venetian painter Fausto Tasca became obscured with layers of soot and discolored varnish. The distinctive color palette was over-painted in favor of a simpler scheme. In 2017, the parish commissioned a preservation firm to restore the church interior to its original glory. Artisans performed an on-site investigation to identify original colors and performed cleaning tests to identify correct conservation materials and techniques to revive the historic murals. Fundraising efforts featured a detailed rendering by our designers, depicting the renewed interior. After successful fundraising by the church, the organization executed a complete restoration of the interior based on the historic design.
