Chattel

Las Vegas Mob Muesum Grand Opening

2012-02-20T15:33:00.000-08:00

The Mob Museum, courtesy of www.themobmuseum.org

The National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement in Las Vegas, known as the Mob Museum, opened to the public on Tuesday, February 14. The nationally recognized museum is housed in a former Federal courthouse and U.S. Post Office. An artifact in itself, the building was carefully and meticulously rehabilitated to tell the story of organized crime and law enforcement in America. Chattel Architecture Planning and Preservation, Inc. served as consulting preservation architect, advising on the building’s rehabilitation and historic tax credits.

The Neoclassical style building was constructed in 1933 and is listed on the Nevada State Register and National Register of Historic Places. It is also one of 14 sites in the nation where the 1950-51 U.S. Senate Special Committees to investigate Crime in Interstate Commerce, also known as the Kefauver committee, were held to expose organized crime.

The Mob Museum, courtesy of www.themobmuseum.org

Chattel was involved at all stages of the project. The firm completed initial studies to determine how best to accommodate building reuse, preparing a reuse feasibility study for the property. This involved mapping of historically significant spaces, evaluation of reuse opportunities and constraints, and collaboration with the project team to prepare conceptual interior layouts for a world-class museum facility. Chattel continued its involvement with design collaboration on the rehabilitation of the building, including a detailed restoration of the courtroom (the site of the Kefauver committee hearings), post office lobby, and loggia on the south elevation. The firm prepared scopes of work for building materials conservation, preliminary structural and code analysis and photo documentation. Chattel has also regularly monitored construction to ensure work is executed in conformance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties (Secretary’s Standards).

In addition to grant writing, Chattel wrote an amendment to the property’s National Register of Historic Places nomination to include its significance for association with the Kefauver committee. This documentation has been accepted by the Keeper of the National Register, making the project eligible for a Save America’s Treasures (SAT) grant, which it received in 2006. This grant was the largest SAT grant awarded that year.

Chattel has also worked in consultation with Nevada State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and National Park Service (NPS) and on completion of Section 106 compliance and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation for compliance with grant requirements and other covenants, and historic investment tax credits. According to SHPO, the $42 million museum project is “thought to be the largest project to receive historic tax credits in Nevada” (Las Vegas Sun, September 7, 2011).

Chattel Team attended the grand opening ceremony and explored the museum’s engaging exhibits and interactive, themed environments, including a recreation of the Kefauver committee hearing in the courtroom and police line-up. Staff members had a chance to chat with Oscar B. Goodman, former Las Vegas Mayor and the Mob’s go-to defense attorney, who was one of the Mob Museum’s original visionaries.

Chattel in a line-up

Chattel Team also visited the Neon Museum Boneyard, which holds over 100 donated and rescued signs dating from the late 1930s through the early 90s that represent motels, local businesses, and celebrated casino resorts from throughout the Las Vegas Valley. Chattel has been involved in design collaboration and Section 106 review of the relocated former La Concha Motel Lobby, which will be rehabilitated as a Visitor Center for the Neon Museum.

Chattel Opens San Francisco Office

2012-02-17T18:17:00.000-08:00

On January 1, 2012, Chattel Architecture, Planning & Preservation opened its second California office in downtown San Francisco at Stevenson Place. The 23 story office building features an ornate marble façade with peaked cornice. The building is conveniently situated near public transportation and freeways, giving staff and clients access to all regions of the Bay Area.

Chattel is located on the fourth floor of the building in a newly remodeled office space shared by other professionals. The office is staffed by Shannon Ferguson, Senior Associate, who has over five years of experience in historic preservation and specializes in Investment Tax Credit Applications and Historic Resource Evaluation reports. Shannon holds office hours on Tuesdays from 8:30am to 5:00pm. If you’re in the neighborhood on that day, please feel free to stop by and she’ll be happy to give you a tour!

Please note our address and phone number:

71 Stevenson Street, Suite 400
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 655-6762
(415) 665-6601 fax

Illuminating Santa Barbara Mission

2012-01-27T11:39:00.000-08:00

The sun is a powerful force. It allows plants to grow and fish to spawn. Indiana Jones harnessed its energy to unlock the key to our humanly existence in Raiders of the Lost Ark. And at Santa Barbara Mission, something even greater has been accomplished: restoration of the church Solstice Window.

New Solstice Window shortly after installation (January 2012, Bryan Burd, Old Mission Santa Barbara, Inc.)

View of the broken c. 1952 window that was removed and replaced (2011, Chattel)

Designed by Native Americans to channel sunlight through the building in a path that illuminates the alter tabernacle on the winter solstice, the solstice window was broken and covered in plywood. Further, its original c. 1820 rosette design was lost, replaced in 1952 with a cruciform sash. Working closely with Mission staff and California Missions Foundation, Chattel coordinated restoration of the early design, the only known records of which are c. 1870 photographs taken by Carleton Watkins and held in the Mission Archive-Library. Because the church was constructed 1815-1820, it is presumed the rosette window seen in the 1870 photographs was in place when the church was first constructed.

Solstice Window c. 1870 (Carleton Watkins, courtesy of Santa Barbara Mission Archive-Library)

A replacement window fabricated by Judson Studios and United Environment Architects was installed December 22, 2011. A circular walnut frame was carefully crafted with true divided lights to replicate the c. 1820 rosette. Restoration glass undulating with deep striations achieves an obscured appearance appropriate for an early nineteenth century window, which would have contained handmade glass.

Drawing of new sash for Solstice Window (2011, United Environment Architecture)

Detail view of new Solstice Window before installation (December 22, 2011, Chattel)

Press coverage of the installation provides additional perspectives:

KCOY:

http://www.kcoy.com/story/16382136/santa-barbara-mission-gets-new-solstice-window-and-restorations

Santa Barbara Independent:

http://www.independent.com/news/2012/jan/05/let-sun-shine/

Santa Barbara Mission church the day of installation of the new solstice window (December 22, 2011, Chattel)

Restoration of the Solstice Window is just the first step in the Mission’s longer-term goal to restore the historic light path through the church. That will involve moving a wall in the choir loft and reconfiguring and digitizing the church organ, which currently blocks the view of the window from the building interior. This will be a costly enterprise and as such is reserved for a later phase of work.

Solstice Window installation is the first of several projects to be completed under a $650,000 federal Save America’s Treasures (SAT) grant. Administered by National Park Service, the SAT grant has been awarded to the Mission for a variety of important preservation projects. Funds totaling $650,000 must be raised to match the funds provided by NPS, for a grant total of $1.3 million. Retrofit of the church crypt, resurfacing of the convento wing pillars and walls, and rehabilitation of the lavanderia, one of the oldest pieces of in-situ art in California, are other projects likely to be completed with the grant funds in the coming years.

Felice Anno Nuovo Hollywood!

2012-01-09T15:05:00.000-08:00

Guided by the Hollywood lore and celebrity gossip experts from TMZ, the Chattel team and guest Kip Rudd played the tourist group on Hollywood Boulevard to celebrate another phenomenal year together. In the crisp December air we toured historic Hollywood and saw legendary music venues, monuments to the film industry, and relics of Hollywood’s Golden Age.

Hollywood has long been known as the entertainment capital of the world, producing thousands of movies since its first movie studio, the New Jersey Nestor Film Company, opened on Sunset Boulevard at Gower Street in 1911. The town, which occupied the former Ranchos La Brea and Los Feliz, was founded in 1887 by Horace H. and Daeida Wilcox. Hollywood reached its heyday in the 1920s, when a great number of movie studios, movie theaters and shopping centers filled Hollywood and Sunset boulevards between Vine Street and Highland Avenue. Upscale commuters reveled in glamorous lives “among the stars” as retail outlets specializing in high-end clothing and accessories developed along Hollywood Boulevard. Originally a dirt road leading from downtown to the west, Sunset Boulevard is first recorded in city documents in 1888 and grew in importance as Los Angeles grew and expanded towards the ocean. In addition to the Nestor Film Company, Fox Studios (corner of Sunset and Western avenues), Warner Brothers (5800 Sunset Boulevard), and Columbia Pictures (1438 Gower Street) were located in close proximity. Chattel has worked on numerous projects in Hollywood, ranging from the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel to the ambitious CRA Hollywood Survey.

On our tour we drove down historic streets like the Sunset Strip; past places that once were or are now the center of the entertainment world. Music venues like the Viper Room and Palladium, where Elton John and Jay Z have performed, the Laugh Factory which has played host to the likes of Tim Allen, Jon Stewart, and Whoopi Goldberg, and the alma mater of countless celebrities, Hollywood High School, were highlights of the tour. We hoped to catch a glimpse of a celebrity shopping on Rodeo Drive and having lunch at the Ivy but were unlucky that day.

We lunched at Miceli’s, a local legend known for its Italian cuisine. Founded in 1949, Miceli’s is still family owned and known for its genuine Sicilian pizza Hundreds of carafes hang from the ceiling and historic stained glass windows from the USC campus are on the wall. Spaghetti and Chianti was had by all as we toasted the great year gone by and the excellent year to come.

The Chattel team getting ready for our TMZ tour!

TMZ stands for 'Thirty Mile Zone', which is the area radiating

out from the intersection of West Beverly and North La Cienega

Boulevards, where most films and television shows are made.

Chianti bottles at Micheli's have personal

messages from patrons written on them.

The Chattel team enjoying a traditional Italian meal!

2011-10-04T10:02:00.000-07:00

Chattel's work on The Mob Museum, opening in February 2012 in the former U.S. Post Office and Courthouse in Las Vegas, NV, was recently featured in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Click here to read more.

2011-09-27T17:09:00.000-07:00

Robert was recently featured in an article on Sherman Oaks Patch. Check out the link below to read more about his career and Chattel's projects.

Credit: Vicki Torres

Preservation Architect Builds on the Past

By Vicki Torres

Sherman Oaks architect Robert Chattel's fascination with history led to sustained success in a specialized field.... read more >>

Chattel wows crowd at California Preservation Conference

2011-06-08T10:34:00.000-07:00

Chattel recently attended the 2011 California Preservation Conference in Santa Monica. In addition to instructive education sessions and study tours, one of the highlights of the conference was 3 Minute Success Stories, a evening of skits and audience participation celebrating successes in historic preservation. Chattel presented the relocation and rehabilitation of Phil's Diner, the oldest dining car in California, now located at 5230 Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood. Constructed in 1920, the Diner operated continuously as a restaurant until 1997.

The Diner has been relocated several times during its long life and was accidentally damaged in 2009 during another relocation by crane. Rehabilitation included structural retrofit and repair, as well as an addition to the Diner’s east elevation that contains a new kitchen, mechanical and electrical equipment, and restrooms with accessibility improvements. With all of this work found to be in conformance with the Secretary’s Standards, Phil’s reopened for business on April 20, 2011.

This is an exciting preservation success, and one that deserves a rousing 3 Minute Success Story. We started with the vision of a classic silent film, highlighting the drama and suspense of Phil's storied past. Jenna created an excellent slide show, featuring the many moves of the Diner. Shane, a talented musician, prepared an accordion piece as accompaniment.

With this wonderful presentation and musical entertainment, what more could we add to our success story?

A pinata!

To be exact, a meticulously constructed replica of Phil's Diner in pinata form, which we would use on stage to replicate the Diner's travels through Hollywood. Robert carefully planned the six foot long pinata, using his drafting skills honed by years of experience.

Through extensive research, Jenna and a custom pinata craftsman named Juan Pablo made the dream of a Phil's Diner pinata come to life. The arrival of the completed pinata was a much-anticipated event in the office.

Seriously, we were excited.

Aided by nearly half an hour of rehearsal, we were ready to perform in front of an eager audience at the Santa Monica Bay Women's Club. At the reception before the performances, we soothed any lingering stage fright with a variety of excellent desserts. Once on stage, our natural talents in interpretive dance and pinata wrangling took hold to create an excellent show. Check out the video for yourself, because we'll be back for the 2012 conference in Oakland!

Pinata Wranglers:

Robert Chattel, Sue O'Carroll, Kathryn McGee, and Marissa Moshier

Sign Stealer:

Shannon Ferguson

Accordionist:
Shane Swerdlow

Stage Manager, Set Designer, and Videographer:
Jenna Snow

Chattel Contemplates Concrete Construction in LaJolla

2011-03-29T17:08:00.000-07:00

Combining Louis Kahn’s Salk Institute with a tour of Irving Gill designed buildings in La Jolla, Chattel studied how first and second generation Modernists expressed themselves through concrete construction.

Joined by architectural historian and La Jolla resident Diane Kane, the first stop was the Salk Institute, designed by Louis Kahn and completed in 1965.

Iconic view of the courtyard. Little did we know that the courtyard doesn't drop off into the ocean.

Like so much of Kahn’s oeuvre, the buildings frankly express the board-form concrete in combination with teak and glass accents and travertine central courtyard.

Building off of lessons learned at the Richard’s Medical Research Laboratory (1957) on the University of Pennsylvania Campus, Kahn horizontally separated served and servant spaces at the Salk Institute. Interstitial servant spaces carry structural loads for the buildings, as well as mechanical equipment with breakout panels, allowing for ease of replacement.

Drawing of served and servant spaces.

Chattel staff pose for a group photo.

After a delicious lunch (from the La Jolla Cheese Shop), Diane presented a background of Irving Gill’s work in La Jolla and his collaboration with Ellen Browning Scripps and landscape architect Kate Sessions.

Our tour of Gills' collaboration with Scripps included Scripps Institute of Oceanography (1908), Gill’s first work in monolithic concrete.

The La Jolla Woman's Club (1913) successfully used tilt-slap construction, while the front arcade has been stripped of applied decoration.

Ellen Scripps' home (1915) has been reused by the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, with an addition designed by Venturi Scott Brown.

Similar to the La Jolla Women's Club, the La Jolla Recreation center (1913) continues Gill's use of tilt-slab construction and exhibits his typical simplicity.

Chattel visits Chateau Elysee in Beachwood Canyon, home of the Scientology Celebrity Centre

2011-02-14T11:49:00.000-08:00

Chattel recently had the pleasure of the behind-the-scenes-tour of the stunning Chateau Elysee. Nestled in the Beachwood Canyon neighborhood just north of Hollywood, the Chateau Elysee was constructed as a hotel-apartment c. 1927. Designed by the firm of Arthur E. Harvey for Eleanor Ince, the widow of silent filmmaker Thomas Ince, and reflecting the development boom of Hollywood at that time, Chateau Elysee originally served as a long-stay hotel and apartment building frequently associated with celebrity visits. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and as Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument no. 329.

Chateau Elysee

Chattel staff pose on Chateau roof

Detail of roof material, terra cotta tile glazed to look like weathered wood shingles

Threatened with demolition in the 1970s, the Chateau was purchased by the Church of Scientology and has since served purposes of the Church as the Scientology Celebrity Center. It includes hotel facilities for traveling Scientologists, along with a restaurant, various meeting rooms and lushly landscaped grounds. As part of the tour, Chattel learned details of the building's rehabilitation and ongoing restoration and maintenance work.

View of Chateau grounds showing restaurant at right

View of Chatueau grounds

View of Chateau grounds looking toward meeting center

Inside the Chateau: Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's former study

Chattel staff enjoy a tour of select Chatueu hotel rooms

Following their tour of the Scientology Celebrity Centre, Chattel staff traveled a few blocks north to take in the nearby Hollywoodland development in Beachwood Canyon. Created in tandem with the iconic "Hollywood" sign (originially reading "Hollywoodland"), the Hollywoodland development was originally designed in the 1920s as an eclectic grouping of period revival residences.

A view of the Hollywood sign from Beachwood Canyon

Chattel staff enjoy the unique architecture of the 1950s John Lautner-designed Beachwood Market in Beachwood Canyon

Historic Photo of Hollywoodland, looking north and showing original granite entrance gate (The Story of Hollywoodland, BL Press, 1992, cover)

Chattel staff pose in the original granite entrance gate to the Hollywoodland development

Exploring Yosemite National Park

2011-01-04T11:27:00.000-08:00

The Chattel team took advantage of a sunny October weekend, embarking on a visit to Yosemite National Park. While taking in the park’s fresh air, breathtaking vistas, and unique architectural history, a variety of sites were toured.

The team had a behind-the-scenes tour of the park’s crown jewel: the Awahnee Hotel. The tour was lead by Gabrielle Harlan, a former Chattel employee. Currently working as a historical architect at Yosemite, Ms. Harlan has been intimately involved with recent rehabilitation work on the Awahnee. She took us on a fascinating journey through the hotel.

Built in 1927 and designed by Gilbert Stanley Underwood, the Awahnee was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987.

Kathryn, Jenna, Gabrielle, Sylvia and Shane on a tour of the Awahnee interior.

Gabrielle leads the Awahnee tour, providing interesting hotel history.

Awahnee dining room celing detail.

Fun Fact: The distinctive décor of the Awahnee interior inspired design of spaces in the fictional Overlook Hotel in Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 film adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, The Shining.

The Chattel team also visited and dined at Yosemite’s charming Victorian-style Wawona Hotel.

The Wawona was constructed c. 1879; the hotel was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987.

In addition to enjoying Yosemite's architectural heritage, the Chattel team took in the iconic views of Yosemite Valley.

Shane, Sylvia, Kathryn, Jenna and Robert pause to enjoy the scenery.

Kathryn, Shane and Jenna have a close encounter with nature.

On the road to Yosemite, a stop was made at a unique roadside trading post. In some ways rivaling the excitement of the park itself, the trading post featured a petting zoo, funhouse and—yes!—cheese tastings. Knowing the cheese would come in handy on the journey ahead, the Chattel travelers stocked up on a variety of these dairy delights. A spicy pepper jack blend was the party favorite.

A view of the petting zoo chickens at the roadside trading post.

Chattel enjoys a Mele Kalikimaka

2011-01-03T17:26:00.000-08:00

“Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say on a bright Hawaiian Christmas day.” On an unusually cold, rainy winter day in LA, the Chattel team embraced the theme of this 1949 Robert Alex Anderson tune by celebrating the season at Bahooka Family Restaurant in Rosemead, California.

Opened in 1967 as Bahooka Ribs and Grog, the restaurant features a blend of nautical and Tiki décor, with over 100 aquariums contributing to the tropical ambiance. Our exotic Tiki experience was enhanced as we enjoyed Polynesian-inspired food and tropical drinks like the Blue Hawaii and Gung Ho (a flaming drink served in a bowl).

Tiki architecture gained popularity during the 1930s with the opening of such Polynesian-themed restaurants as Don the Beachcomber in Hollywood and Trader Vic’s in Oakland. Defining elements of this style include the use of carved beams, lava rock, and steep peaked roofs. Passage of the Hawaii Admission Act, which established the State of Hawaii in 1959, and increased affordability of Hawaii as a vacation destination after World War II further contributed to popularity of Polynesian design.

As many Polynesian-themed restaurants have closed or been significantly altered, we’re excited that such a prominent example of Tiki architecture still exists, and we would like to say ‘mahalo’ to Bahooka for turning a rainy afternoon into a bright Hawaiian December day.

Bahooka entrance

Sylvia opens the door to a Polynesian experience

Jen, Kathryn, and Jenna have a tough time deciding which drink to order

Flaming drinks like the Gung Ho are perfect to share

More of the Gung Ho

Robert's Ko Ko Nut offers a delicious blend of pineapple, coconut, and almond flavors

Shane enjoys a classic Blue Hawaii

Interior view