About the Client/Project: Balboa Park was the site for the Panama-California Exposition in 1915. The 1,200-acre park is home to multiple museums, the Japanese Friendship Garden, the Botanical Building, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. The park and its historic exposition buildings were declared a National Historic Landmark and placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The City of San Diego retained Design-Builder EC Constructors to restore the beautiful and historic Botanical Building to the original conditions of the building, just as it was constructed in 1915. Platt/Whitelaw Architects, retained by EC Constructors, is the architectural consultant. The restoration needed to include restoration of the window arcades, structural reinforcement, repair and painting of the redwood lath, remodeling and expansion of the maintenance area, and removal of the concrete piers. The remodel also includes creation of a north entry, an accessible restroom, and an addition of two rooms for storage and maintenance.
Project Challenge: The botanical building, made of redwood lath, was far more degraded than previously estimated. In addition, as the demolition was taking place, it was discovered that portions of the steel structure had to be repaired/replaced as well.
Architectural Solution: Platt/Whitelaw Architects (PWA) provided scope verification and due diligence based on documents provided by the City of San Diego, matterport scanning of the building, historic documentation, lighting redesign, a new path of travel, demolition, steel repair, replacement and framing, certified arborist to protect the trees, interior planting plans, seismic verification, irrigation drainage, fire sprinklers for the enclosed portion of the building, and renderings. PWA included full architectural services from CD’s to project closeout.
Final Result: The botanical building is estimated to be completed in Summer 2024.
Renderings by Platt/Whitelaw Architects, Inc. Photos by Pablo Mason Photography.
