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The California Preservation Foundation is a nationwide leader in historic preservation education. We train more than 1,500 people every year at more than 100 distinct events, including tours, our annual conference, design awards, workshops, and webinars.
California Preservation Conference
Since 1976, we have held an annual statewide conference where preservationists can gather, exchange ideas, network and organize around important issues. The next conference will take place May 17-20, 2020 in Sacramento. Visit our conference page for more details.
California Preservation Awards
During the California Preservation Awards, CPF recognizes the accomplishments of architects, engineers, developers, preservation consultants, non-profit organizations, government agencies, and others for outstanding examples of preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, reconstruction, contextual infill, sustainability, cultural resource studies and reports, craftsmanship and preservation technology, and archaeology and interpretive exhibits. The awards ceremony combines the presentation of the Preservation Design Awards (for exemplary projects) and President’s Awards (for organizations and firms deserving of special recognition). The 2019 California Preservation Awards ceremony will take place on Friday, October 18th at the InterContinental Mark Hokpins San Francisco.
Workshops & Webinars
All events are focused on professionals and advocates, including planners, architects, engineers, historians, commissioners, board members, and contractors. Many of our program have continuing education credit, including AIA, AICP, ASLA, MCLE, and USGBC. If you’re unable to pay by credit card, you can call 415-495-0349 or fill out a registration form here and return to us via fax, email, or mail.
If you have the need for training on a specific subject, we will work with you to provide affordable training to meet your continuing education needs.
CPF has a reputation for providing high quality, interactive workshops and is a certified continuing education provider for the American Institute of Architects (AIA), American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) United States Green Building Council (USGBC) and the California State Bar (MCLE).
Our programs meet the high standards required by each of these organizations as we strive to present the “current and best practices” in historic preservation. Staff and Commissioners of Certified Local Governments can also satisfy the requirement for continuing education by attending CPF workshops. Click here to email the Field Services Director.
Law & Government
- California Historical Building Code (CCR Title 24, Part 8)
- NEPA, CEQA, Sec. 106, 4(f)
- Mills Act
- Creative Mitigation for CEQA Compliance
- Preservation Easements
- Role of Landmarks Commission
- Training for Certified Local Governments
- Design Review for Historic Districts & Conservation Areas
- Planning Commissioner Short Course
Economic Development
- Incentives for Historic Preservation: Tax Act, TDR’s,
- Preservation & Adaptive Re-use
- Preservation & Affordable Housing
- Preservation & Hazardous Materials
- Preservation & Sustainbility
- Heritage Tourism & Historic Interpretation
Preservation Planning
- Historic Surveys
- Preservation & Disaster Planning: Fire, Flood & Earthquake
- Historic Districts & Conservation Areas
- Preservation Elements for General Plans
- GIS and GPS
- Developing Pubic Participation and Outreach Programs
- Preservation Ordinances
Preservation 101: Basics
- Secretary of the Interior’s Standards
- What is a Cultural Resource?
- How to do Historic Research
- National, California & Local Registers
- Historic Contexts
Design
- Secretary of the Interior’s Standards
- Infill in Historic Districts
- Preservation Design Solutions
- Universal Access for Historic Sites
- Guiding Design on Main Street
Cultural Resources
- Modernism: What is it and do I have to preserve it?
- Cultural Landscapes: Definition, Documentation & Preservation
- Interpreting Sites of Social Change
Technical
- Working with Historic Materials
- Weatherization
Other
- Transportation Enhancements
Past Programs
2019
Owner Consent & Designation: Summary & Strategies – Nov 13, 2019Advanced Topics in CEQA and Section 106 – Nov 08, 2019
Point-Counterpoint: Streamlining Housing Development vs Local Control – Nov 06, 2019
Building a Bullet-proof Case for the Economic Benefits of Historic Preservation – Sep 25, 2019
Decoding Preservation: A 360-Degree Look at Historic Preservation Ordinances, Policy, and Practice – Sep 20, 2019
Click here for a complete list of past programs.
Tours & Special Events
We hold both public and members only tours throughout the year. Check here or on our main tour webpage for additional information.
Rooftop Tours of San Francisco
You will visit the top privately-owned public open spaces in San Francisco, with rooftop views of the Palace Hotel, Hobart Building, Hearst Building, and more. A knowledgeable guide will tell you about the legends and lore surrounding San Francisco’s “Times Square,” once home to three of the city’s major newspapers. Along the way we’ll test your knowledge of architecture and San Francisco History. We’ll end the tour with a visit San Francisco’s tallest publicly accessible rooftop (POPOS), where you’ll have a panoramic view of downtown.
You may also book on Eventbrite here.