Salk Institute garners prestigious statewide preservation awards

October 13, 2017

Salk Institute garners prestigious statewide preservation awards

California Preservation Foundation recognizes teak window conservation, endowment for future preservation

October 13, 2017

LA JOLLA—The Salk Institute has been named the recipient of two awards, including the top honor, by the California Preservation Foundation for the restoration of its teak window systems and establishment of an endowment for future conservation projects. The awards were presented at the 34^th annual Preservation Design Awards & President’s Awards ceremony on October 13, 2017, at the InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel in San Francisco.

The Institute shared recognition for “excellence in craftsman and preservation technology” with teak project architects Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. The multi-year, $9.8 million restoration was conducted in partnership with the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) under its Conserving Modern Architecture Initiative. The general contractor was Rudolph & Sletten and restoration contractor was ISEC, Inc.

Salk also received CPF’s President’s Award for establishing the Architecture Conservation Program for the continued restoration of the nearly 60-year-old Modernist buildings considered to be the masterwork of architect Louis Kahn. The endowment program, launched June 27, 2017, at the unveiling of the restored teak window systems, was created with a lead gift made by the son of Jonas Salk, Jonathan Salk, and his wife Elizabeth Shepherd.

“The Salk Institute is honored to be the recipient of the California Preservation Foundation’s Preservation Design Award in recognition of the successful completion of our recent, three-year teak and concrete restoration and preservation project,” says Tim Ball, senior director of Facilities at Salk. “We are also extremely honored to receive the CPF President’s Award for the establishment of the Salk’s Architecture Conservation Program, an endowment fund created to ensure the responsible stewardship of the iconic Kahn buildings going forward.”

The California Preservation Foundation celebrates and recognizes exemplary work in historic preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, sustainability, studies, reports and other significant categories in the preservation field through its Preservation Design Awards. This year, in addition to Salk, the awards showcased the preservation design excellence of 20 buildings throughout the state. For a complete list of the winners, visit: https://californiapreservation.org/story/celebrate/awards/