Mark Cavagnero Associates Architects

    • Projects
    • California Palace of the Legion of Honor Museum
    Courtyard Entry
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    Courtyard Entry
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    Skylight Detail
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    Skylight Detail
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    Interior Gallery
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    Floor Plans
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    Floor Plans
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    Section
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    Section
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    Fence Plan and Elevation
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    Transverse Wall Section between Galleries
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    Conceptual Model Study
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    seismic upgrade and restoration of historic architectural features
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    Building Restoration
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    Building Renovation
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    Building Restoration
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    Building Renovation
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    Building Renovation
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    Building Renovation
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    Building Renovation
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    Building Renovation
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    Legion of Honor from Mark Cavagnero Associates on Vimeo.

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    California Palace of the Legion of Honor Museum

    Status

    Completed, 1995

    Size

    78,000 SF Renovation; 38,000 SF Addition

    Client

    Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

    Scope

    Restoration, Seismic Upgrade, Addition

    Project Team

    Mark Cavagnero
    Laura Blake
    Felicia Dunham

    Project Collaborators

    Mark Cavagnero Associates was the Architect in collaboration with Edward Larrabee Barnes.
    Exhibit Design: Bill White
    Lighting: Auerbach Glasow French

    Description

    The project consists of a restoration, seismic upgrade, restoration of historic architectural features, and and an underground expansion that added 35,000 square feet, to a historic public museum which converts it into a state of the art modern facility. This conversion involved a complete seismic upgrade to the existing concrete and unreinforced masonry building, restoration and duplication of historic finishes, materials and spaces, construction of new art galleries, storage and service areas, insertion of new mechanical, electrical, life safety and security systems and installation of new public store and restaurant.  Additional design projects which were part of the museum work include the design of a sculpture garden, restaurant and bookstore.  In addition, work included the design of several gallery installations, including the Spanish Ceiling, the Period Rooms, Seychelles Gallery and the Porcelain Gallery.

    The historic shell was preserved and restored throughout; all seismic engineering interventions were concealed as seamlessly as possible. New architectural insertions within historic spaces were designed as discrete elements in a more clearly modern palette which relate to the existing by means of scale, proportion, light and movement, not necessarily “style” or material.

     

    Location

    Recognition

    Awards

    AIA California Council, Honor Award, 1997
    AIA San Francisco, Excellence in Design Award, 1997

    Publications

    New York Times Magazine, November 16, 1995
    Architectural Record, April 1997
    Architecture, December 1995
    Fine Arts, November/December 1996
    Triptych Magazine, Nov 1995 and May 1995
    San Francisco Examiner Magazine, Feb 1998
    San Francisco Examiner Magazine, Nov 1995