Preservation Awards Made by Conservancy

The Los Angeles Conservancy has presented six preservation awards and seven certificates of merit for “exceptional achievements in the preservation of historically significant buildings and sites, or for an innovative contribution to historic preservation.”

Awards went to the Coca Cola Bottling Co. for preserving and selective remodeling of its Streamline Moderne, nautical-style building in downtown Los Angeles; the restoration and renovation of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel; the Los Angeles Theatre Center’s “creative” adaptive reuse, and the rescue from demolition and relocation by the Speer family of the Victorian Hoyt House. A preservation award was also given to Delores Hayden, professor of urban planning at UCLA, for the development of a public lecture in historic preservation, entitled “The Power of Place.”

Brenda Levin, of Levin & Associates, was the first recipient of the President’s Award for “significant accomplishments of an entire body of historic preservation work.” This work included the Oviatt Building, Fine Arts Building, Wiltern Theatre, Grand Central Market, Subway Terminal Building and the Downtown Women’s Center.

Certificates of merit were given to Cineplex Odeon for renovation and restoration of the former Gordon Theatre; the Mann Theatres for saving the neon facade and restoring the historic Alex Theatre in Glendale, and the Los Angeles Fire Department for its “heroic work and extraordinary valor” in saving the Central Library.

Other merit recipients were Alan and Betty Levenson for the restoration of their historic home and garden designed by Gilbert Stanley Underwood; the Rev. Patrick J. McPolin for his “dedicated leadership and initiative” in restoring the Dominguez Ranch Adobe and developing a historical museum; Martin Eli Weil, who is retiring after seven years as president of the Conservancy, and Nancy and Kyle Smith for developing the “Six Innovators” house tour in Silver Lake.

Serving on the awards selection jury were architect Scott Carde, Edward Avila, Los Angeles Board of Public Works commissioner; Bruce Corwin, Metropolitan Theatres Corp.; Joyce MacRae, West Coast editor, House and Garden magazine, and Ruthann Lehrer, executive director, L. A. Conservancy.