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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.

Urth Caffe Project Team

Project Lead & Title
Dick Gee – Spectra Company

Owner/Client & Title
Shallom Berkman – Urth Old Towne Development, Inc.

Architect
Stephen Jones – SFJones Architects

Author & Title
Amelia DeCoster – Spectra Company

Structural Engineer
Phaitoon Sarujikamjorn – Grimm and Chen Structural Engineering, Inc.

Electrical Engineer
Steve Kelner – OMB Electrical Engineers

Mechanical and Plumbing Engineer
Larry Zero – Zero and Associates (M&P engineers)

Geotechnical Engineer
Juan Vidal – A.G.I. Geotechnical

Historic Preservation Consultant
Dick Gee – Spectra Company

Contractor
Ray Adamyk – Spectra Company

Specialty Sub-Contractor- Steel Subcontractor
Larry Collins – FCP, Inc.

Specialty Sub-Contractor- Architectural Millwork
Dave Skinner – Pacific Architectural Millwork

Specialty Sub-Contractor-Custom Tile Fabricator
Desmond McLean – California Pottery & Tile Works Inc.

Consulting Architect
Victor Corona – VMC Architecture

Urth Caffe

The Urth Caffe is the winner of a 2020 Preservation Design Award for 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. The Award will be presented on Wednesday, October 21, 2020 at an online awards ceremony. Tickets and sponsorship options are available at californiapreservation.org/awards.

Read more about the Preservation Design Awards

About this project

The two-story brick and wood-framed building was originally constructed as a smaller one-story building in 1888 and widened and a 2nd floor added in 1907. Subsequent alterations resulted in the loss of significant integrity, covering the exterior with plaster, loss of the original storefronts and replacement with inappropriate windows. The building was purchased to adaptively reuse it as a café and restaurant. The new owner’s goals were to restore it to its original Italian Revival character that was long lost. Historic research and exploratory investigation were performed to ensure the accuracy of the restoration. The building’s exterior façade was completely restored to the period of significance. A steel moment frame was inserted to allow for the full height ground floor storefronts to be restored.  New period compatible interior improvements included a restaurant and café on the first floor with restaurant support spaces and offices on the second floor.

A corner of a brick building with a corner of a street corner.
A spacious, modern café with exposed brick walls, high ceilings, large windows, and natural light. There’s a long counter on the left and tables with chairs on the right. Red ropes guide customers through the line.
A vertical café sign on a brick building features a gold teacup with a red heart and the words Urth Caffé in white, decorative letters against a dark background, seen from a low angle.
A cozy cafe with wooden chairs and tables against a brick wall featuring a mural that reads Urth Caffé Coffees & Fine Teas with a teacup and heart surrounded by orange flowers.
A wooden shelving unit filled with jars and tins stands against a brick wall. In front, a round wooden table with two chairs is set on a tiled floor near a staircase with a black railing.
Spacious, modern café with high ceilings, exposed beams, brick walls, and a large central coffee bar; seating areas and decorative lights; a sign and velvet ropes guide customers at the entrance.