Gordon Building, Napa

The Gordon Building of Napa, a historic Spanish Colonial Revival commercial structure, stands as a remarkable example of preservation and rehabilitation. Originally built as a two-story commercial building on Napa’s main shopping street, it was severely damaged during the 2014 South Napa earthquake, which caused interior and exterior walls to collapse, roof disconnections, and extensive structural failures. Despite the significant damage, the building's steel skeleton played a crucial role in preventing a complete collapse. However, the decorative terra cotta masonry, ornamental ironwork, and intricate plaster finishes suffered substantial destruction, leading to the building being red-tagged as unsafe for occupancy.

Following extensive structural assessments and evaluations, a decision was made in 2016 to undertake a comprehensive rehabilitation project, focusing on both seismic retrofitting and architectural restoration. Historic elements such as the stone property line wall, ornamental ironwork, terra cotta detailing, and original wood and metal windows and doors were meticulously repaired, restoring the building’s grandeur while reinforcing its structural integrity.

In 2022, the Gordon Building was honored with the Preservation Design Award for Rehabilitation, a recognition awarded by top professionals in architecture, engineering, and historic preservation.