Architectural Resources Group

Architectural Resources Group (or ARG; also known as Architects, Planners & Conservators, Inc.) is a firm founded in 1980 by Bruce Judd and Steve Farneth in San Francisco. It began by providing professional services in the fields of architecture and urban planning with particular expertise in the area of historic preservation. By 2005, the firm had expanded to a full-service architecture firm with 50 employees, opened an office in Pasadena serving Southern California, and founded a separate conservation-contracting division, ARG Conservation Services.

About the Firm

Because of the complex range of issues common to preservation projects, the firm associates with consultants in diverse fields such as architectural history, preservation technology, building pathology, building materials, engineering, real estate, and economics. By assembling a team of specialists across several different disciplines, ARG approaches problems from a wide perspective, enabling implementation of more creative, cost effective, and comprehensive solutions.

ARG was among the first architecture firms in the United States to include architectural conservators as staff members. This resource allows the firm to focus on the science of preserving architecture and its historic fabric. Close integration of architectural conservators, preservation architects, and architectural historians provide clients with superior design services, providing truly sustainable solutions to built heritage. [ Farneth, Stephen J. and Wessel, David P., “The Roles of an Architectural Conservator in an Architectural Preservation Firm,” Standards for Preservation and Rehabilitation, edited by Stephen J. Kelley, published by ASTM 1996] ARG has since provided a range of services for various National Historic Landmarks, buildings listed on the National Historic Register, historic districts, and other culturally significant sites.

The firm and its projects have received over 100 awards in design excellence, conservation, and planning, including those sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the American Institute of Architects, the California Governor’s Office, and the California Preservation Foundation. In 2006, ARG received the Firm of the Year Award from the AIA California Council. The firm also retains close alliances and involvement with preservation policy and advocacy organizations, such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation, ICOMOS, DOCOMOMO, the Association for Preservation Technology International, and the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works. Firm members have also given numerous public lectures, discussing a wide range of topics pertaining to cultural heritage.

Major Projects

Architecture & Cultural Resource Preservation

* A.K. Smiley Library, Renovation & Expansion, Redlands, California
* Berenger Vineyards Master Plan and New Building, St. Helena, California
* Calvary Presbyterian Church, Seismic Upgrade, San Francisco, California
* Children’s Hospital of Oakland Research Institute, Adaptive Reuse, Oakland, California
* Chuck Williams Flavor Discovery Center & Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies, Rehabilitation & Adaptive Reuse, Culinary
* Institute of America at Greystone, St. Helena, California
* Conservatory of Flowers, Restoration & Repair, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California
* Curry Village New Employee Housing, Yosemite National Park, California
* Filoli Estate, New Visitor Center & Café Addition, Woodside, California
* Presidio Fire Department, Fire Station Addition and Upgrade, Presidio of San Francisco, California
* Goldman School of Public Policy, New Building & Rehabilitation of Historic Building, University of California at Berkeley, California
* Jefferson County Courthouse Clock Tower Rehabilitation, Port Townsend, Washington
* Napa Valley Opera House Rehabilitation & New Addition, Napa, California
* New Visitor Center, Lava Beds National Park, California
* Pasadena City Hall, Seismic Retrofit, Rehabilitation & Repairs, Pasadena, California
* The Retreat at Fort Baker, Adaptive Reuse, Marin County, California
* San Francisco Theological Seminary, Restoration & Seismic Upgrade, San Anselmo, California
* Sunset Center, Rehabilitation & New Addition, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

Conservation

* 450 Sutter Street, Window Stabilization, Rehabilitation & Replacement, San Francisco, California
* The 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle, Washington Aleutian World War II National Historic Area, Unalaska/Dutch Harbor, Alaska
* Angel Island Immigration Station, Poetry Conservation, Angel Island State Park, California
* Angel of Grief, Conservation & Stabilization, Stanford University, California
* Fountain of the Tortoises, Huntington Park, Restoration & Seismic Stabilization, San Francisco, California
* Mark Hopkins Hotel, Design Services, San Francisco, California
* Maritime Museum Exterior Restoration, Aquatic Park Historic District, San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park, California
* Masonic Temple, Mosaic Window Assessment & Restoration, San Francisco, California
* Old St. Mary’s Cathedral Restoration & Seismic Strengthening, San Francisco, California
* Watts Towers State Historic Park, Los Angeles, California

Historic Structure Reports

* Angel Island Immigration Station, Three Buildings, San Francisco Bay, California
* Bok Kai Temple, Marysville, California
* Channel Islands National Park, Three Ranch Houses, Ventura, California
* Conservatory of Flowers, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California
* First Church of Christ, Scientist, Berkeley, California
* Frank Lloyd Wright-Designed Hanna House, Stanford University, California
* Grand Canyon National Park, Five Buildings, Grand Canyon, Arizona
* John Marsh House, Contra Costa County, California
* John Muir House, John Muir National Historic Site, Martinez, California
* Locke Boarding House, Locke, California
* Old United States Mint Building, San Francisco, California
* Pasadena City Hall, Pasadena, California
* Rancho Los Alamitos, Long Beach, California

Design Guidelines & Historic Resource Surveys

* City of Anaheim, Historic Resource Survey, Anaheim, California
* City of Davis, Downtown Historic Resource Survey, Davis, California
* City of Fresno, Broadway Row Historical Resource Survey, Fresno, California
* City of Monterey, Cannery Row Historic Resource Survey, Monterey, California
* City of Palm Springs, City Wide Historic Resources Survey, Palm Springs, California
* City of Stockton, Downtown Historic Resource Survey, Stockton, California
* Glendale Design Guidelines for Residential Buildings, Glendale, California
* Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Crater Rim Drive Historic Road Inventory, Hawai’i, Hawaii
* Historic Downtown Los Angeles Design Guidelines, Los Angeles, California
* Oregon Parks & Recreation Department, Context Statement & Inventory, Oregon
* Presidio Design Guidelines, Presidio of San Francisco, California
* Shenandoah Historic District Design Guidelines, Moffett Field, California
* Tomales Design Guidelines, Tomales, California

Publications

“Flowers for San Francisco: Conserving San Francisco’s Conservatory of Flowers was no easy task. Architectural Resources Group of San Francisco led the $25 million, eight-year rehabilitation.” "Traditional Building", October 2005

“Giving Old Buildings a Reason to Live: Using the latest high-tech tools, preservation architects find the right balance between celebrating a building’s treasured history and allowing it to live on into the future.” "Architectural Record", March 2005

“Seismic Upgrade for Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1937 Hanna House at Stanford University: Materials research and development promise an earthquake-resistant future.” "Architectural Record", Tech Briefs, November 2000

“Earthquake-Proofing Polk: Installing steel and concrete reinforcements within the walls invisibly upgrades the seismic strength of the Filoli mansion.” "Architecture", December 1995

“Drinking Lessons: The Rudd Center for Wine Education in St. Helena, Calif., by ARG, is the ideal environment for a glass of wine.” "Contract", August 2004.

“In Concert: A historic interior, acoustical relevance, and ARG make beautiful music together in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif.’s Sunset Center.” "Contract", March 2004

“Reborn at Last: The revitalization of the former University High School in Oakland for the Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute.” "Contract"

“Not So Radical: In accord with a national trend toward town-gown détente, a contentious conflict on the edge of Berkeley’s campus ends with an architecturally conservative solution.” "Preservation", January/February 2003.

“A New Yet Familiar Neighbor: Goldman School of Public Policy UC Berkeleyby Architectural Resources Group. A new annex becomes a hands-on experience in preservation and urban design policy.” "ArchNewsNow", January 2003.

“Faith Lift: The restoration at the San Francisco Theological Seminary has given the campus its heart and revived two architectural icons to their original glory.” "Facilities Design & Management", June 2002.

“A Conservatory Reborn: After falling prey to one of the most violent storms in California history, San Francisco’s Conservatory of Flowers blooms again.” "World Monuments ICON", Summer 2003.

External links

* http://www.argsf.com
* http://www.arg-la.com

Notes