Sacramento Municipal Utility District Headquarters

Excellent

Sacramento Municipal Utility District Headquarters

Site overview

Completed in 1960, the SMUD Headquarters building brought a significant International Style modernist icon to the Sacramento region. The project received recognition through several national and international publications including the New York Times. For its time, this new headquarters incorporated forward-thinking technology still relevant today. Use of an active sun shading system, carefully considered solar orientation, timeless and durable building materials, and a simple yet flexible floor plan have all contributed to minimizing the need for change, enabling continuous operation by the original client. The landscape was designed utilizing classic modernist principles and integrates the building into the park-like environment.

Awards

Design

Citation for Art Preservation

Civic

A Special Citation for Mural Preservation is given for the restoration of Wayne Thiebaud’s “Water City” tile mural at the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) Headquarters. Completed in 1960 by Dreyfuss & Blackford Architects, the SMUD Headquarters building is a modernist icon. After 60 years of continuous use, this extensive rehabilitation took a holistic approach, considering the site’s “park-like” landscape, the building envelope and central core, and the unique mural by internationally recognized artist Wayne Thiebaud. Constructed of Italian glass mosaic tile, the mural was entirely cleaned and repaired including grout and tile replacement where necessary. Lighting of the mural was critically important, and a high efficiency LED lighting system was employed to evenly illuminate the mural. This award recognizes the project team for their approach to the mural preservation, recognizing it as a significant design element and embracing it as an equally important aspect of the of the larger restoration project.

“The public agency should be commended for respecting the truly excellent piece of environmentally sensitive architecture they are charged with, including the mosaic mural.”

 

- Alan Hess, 2020 Jury Member
Client

Sacramento Municipal Utility District

Restoration Team

Dreyfuss + Blackford Architecture, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.

Primary classification

Public Services (PBS)

Secondary classification

Administration (ADM)

Designations

The building and site were listed on the National Register of Historic Places and California Register of Historical Resources in 2010.

Location

6201 S St
Sacramento, CA, 95817

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