Phase I Renovation Complete for Frank Lloyd Wrights Hollyhock House

The restoration of the Barnsdall Park located on Hollywood Boulevard is in the final stages of closeout thanks to the efforts of Swinerton Management & Consulting, Los Angeles Division (SMC LA). SMC LA provided project management services for this difficult and long awaited site renovation, for the Department of Recreation and Parks. The effort is part of SMC LAs current contract with the City of Los Angeles for on-call services. This project represented 35 acres of hillside stabilization and complete infrastructure replacement, along with the seismic upgrade, to the world-famous Frank Lloyd Wright Hollyhock House.

LOS ANGELES, CA (PRWEB) December 11, 2003 --The Hollyhock House is registered nationally as a historic structure and was treated as such, requiring oversight by the Historic Preservation Society. A team of conservation experts was assembled to do the job. The SMC LA team was responsible to exact the standards set by architect Levin & Associates-also responsible for the recently restored Los Angeles City Hall and currently involved with the restoration of the Griffith Park Observatory.

SMC LA was the pivot point for coordination of the numerous contractual and construction related activities, said Pat Burke, project manager for SMC LA.

The entire upper façade of the house was documented, removed and stored while the installation of the structural steel was performed," he said. Each of the highly articulate stonework pieces was flawlessly restored and reinstalled in its original location, recreating the beauty and intent of the original construction."

The outer envelope of the building was recreated to ensure watertight conditions, he said. During the construction, the highly valuable original Frank Lloyd Wright-created furnishings were restored to museum-quality standards and reinstalled exactly in their original positions.

As with any restoration project much was unknown at the outset," Burke said. SMC LAs experience proved invaluable in finding solutions to the challenges due to the rigors of historic renovation."

The finished site work exhibits extensive landscaping, including 315 olive trees, a pine grove with 108 pine trees, as originally conceived by Aileen Barnsdall, and site access from Hollywood Boulevard with parking for the enjoyment of the beautifully restored park.
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