Sacred Places Summer 2025 | Page 23

AWARD FOR RELIGIOUS ARCHITECTURE: RESTORATION AWARD FOR
San Gabriel Mission Spectra Company San Gabriel, CA
JURY COMMENTS: A great example of redemption from fire, sensitive to the historic details and qualities of the church.
Spectra Company
Conserving San Gabriel Mission after a devastating fire was like an act of spiritual redemption. Seeing the church charred by the flames was both heartbreaking and daunting, but the entire team— the architects, engineers, conservators, and contractors— rose to the occasion, working with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to systematically bring the building back better than it was before.
The process began with removal of the 19th-century retablo and sculptures so they could be treated offsite at a conservation studio while the sanctuary was stabilized. The highly trained team of conservators used state-of-the-art solvent gels to separate thick char that had accumulated on pieces on the highest registers of the retablo, in the process revealing original colors that had been obscured by a previous repair campaign. Careful investigation by the preservation architect and conservators also exposed the building’ s original color scheme. As important historical information was obtained, the church’ s dark history as a site built by enslaved Native communities was grappled with. The result was a historical place of worship that reckoned with its past as it rose from the ashes and brought its diverse community together in repair.
AWARD FOR RELIGIOUS ARCHITECTURE: RESTORATION
Colin Winterbottom Photography
Virginia Mae Center SmithGroup Washington, DC
The Virginia Mae Center, located on the grounds of Washington National Cathedral, reclaims a 1929 neo-Gothic structure that once served as the College of Preachers. For nearly 80 years, the 27,000-square-foot building provided
dormitories and educational space for religious study. In 2008, changing economics closed the college, and the structure sat vacant, deteriorating, for more than 10 years. With support from private gifts, the cathedral embarked on a comprehensive plan to transform the college into a contemporary education and conference center.
Extensive interior demolition
enabled the team to survey the structure and develop a design strategy. The original floor plan, a warren of small rooms and narrow hallways dispersed across 15 different levels, was a challenge. The site’ s steep grade added to the accessibility puzzle. The solution: two elevators, one for the guest rooms and another specifically designed with three stops to allow barrier-free access from the historic main lobby to the Refectory and Library. The site was also regraded for an accessible ramppath at the building rear. The result is a sensitively designed project that connects renovated historic spaces with newly designed ones while encouraging appreciation of the craft of the restored historic features.
JURY COMMENTS: This is a fitting restoration that captures the spirit of the nearby cathedral. Very attentive to historic details, finishes, and lighting.
SACRED PLACES • SUMMER 2025 23