LPA Wins Modernism in America Award

UC San Diego's York Hall earned national recognition for a seismic rehabilitation project that balanced modernization with historic preservation.

Now in its 13th year, Docomomo’s Modernism in America Awards spotlight the people and projects helping to preserve historic sites across the United States and U.S. territories. The program recognizes the owners, designers, advocacy groups and preservation organizations working to protect and promote the cultural and architectural significance of these important places.

This year, LPA Design Studios won an Award of Excellence for the York Hall Seismic Rehabilitation project at the University of California at San Diego (UCSD). The project offers a compelling example of how these structures can be thoughtfully adapted to meet modern performance demands. By addressing critical seismic challenges, the team has helped ensure the long-term future of a university campus landmark.

Built in 1966, York Hall is a 122,000-square-foot mid-century modern complex made up of four structurally independent buildings. Anchoring the eastern edge of UCSD’s historic Revelle College, the building is defined by its dramatic west wing, which stands atop a 300-foot-long column arcade, and by the distinctive precast concrete fins that shade exterior walkways on every level. As one of the university's original campus buildings, York Hall holds a special place in its history and has been described by administrators as the heart of the campus.

Many of the features that make York Hall an architectural icon also contributed to its seismic vulnerabilities. To strengthen the building, the project team introduced new columns, interior shear walls and exterior ground-face CMU shear walls. Four columns were replaced, while the remaining ones were repaired and reinforced. Additional upgrades included new rock-salt concrete paving and the restoration of the distinctive fins, ensuring the building remains intact for future generations.

"York Hall demonstrates that it's possible to extend the life of a significant building — even in a highly active seismic region — without compromising the architectural character that makes it special,” says Matthew Porreca, Design Director at LPA’s San Diego studio. “Every challenge required a solution that addressed multiple goals at once, and that was only possible because of the expertise and collaboration of an integrated design team.”