Upgrades to Hearst Social Hall and Crocker Dining Hall Pay Homage to History

PACIFIC GROVE, Calif. – As Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds' celebrates its 100-year anniversary, Aramark Parks and Destinations, an authorized concessioner of California State Parks, has also unveiled the significant renovations that have been made to the National Historic Landmark property to date. The most noteworthy renovations have been made in the Phoebe Apperson Hearst Social Hall and the Mary Ann Crocker Dining Hall, both of which received complete facelifts through restorations of some of the buildings' original design by famed architect, Julia Morgan, best known for her work on Hearst Castle.

Asilomar Conference Grounds was originally designed by Julia Morgan, the first female architect to be licensed in the State of California, for the Young Women's Christian Association to serve as a gathering place for members to enjoy the nature and beauty of the Monterey Peninsula. Over the course of its 100-year existence, the property has expanded and evolved. New buildings were added in the 1960s to accommodate the site's growing popularity.

 “Asilomar Conference Grounds has an important and storied history, not only for women in architecture, but for all of those practicing architecture,” said Mairead Hennessy, resident district manager for Aramark Parks and Destinations at Asilomar Conference Grounds. “Our goal with the renovations is to honor the property's rich history, while enhancing the guest experience.”

The completion of the project comes after several years of research and development by California State Parks, and architecture firm, Page & Turnbull. Due to the historic significance of these buildings all renovations were required to meet The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. To conform to these standards and understand the historic significance of the property, the firm consulted with State Park historians and architects, studied previous historic structure reports as well as conducted archival research at various local repositories such as the California State Park Archives, Asilomar Maintenance Archives, the Monterey County Public Library, and Pacific Grove Heritage Society Archives. Additionally, they collected and utilized copies of original photographs and existing drawing prints of buildings.

“Over the years, the site underwent a series of remodels, additions and renovations. While some of these changes, including those designed by John Carl Warnecke, reinforced the character of its 'Arts & Craft' architecture embraced by Julia Morgan,  subsequent changes were not always sympathetic to the original design intent,” said Lada Kocherovsky, associate principal of Page & Turnbull. “One of our first tasks was to evaluate those changes and find the most sensitive solutions to bring the lost elements back.”

When working on Phoebe Apperson Hearst Social Hall, Page & Turnbull first set about removing alterations that were not agreeable to the original design. They then restored the configuration of spaces in the building to be as close as possible to Morgan's original layout, while improving its functionality. Restoring the registration area and rebuilding the hall's historic tearoom allowed the firm to bring back a sense of harmony and order to the Social Hall.

The interior of the Social Hall also was taken into careful consideration. Page & Turnbull worked to match the size and grain pattern of the original oak strip floors when replacing the non-original existing flooring. Additionally, they worked with a lighting manufacturer to produce replicas of the original wall sconces and historic chandeliers, which highlight the ceiling structure and illuminate the room's beautiful redwood trusses.

Page & Turnbull also investigated the materials used by Julia Morgan. They tested stains and varnishes on the new redwood boards in the walls and where possible, they reused and salvaged many of the existing boards. The focus of renovations to the Crocker Dining Hall was to create a visual connection between the historic dining hall and the server. Further, a complete renovation was made to the building's commercial kitchen.

The success of this project was due to the collaborative partnership between Aramark Parks and Destinations, Page & Turnbull and California State Parks. Their joint efforts will maintain and preserve California's best natural and cultural resources for future generations. Asilomar Conference Grounds will continue to enhance its offerings. Currently, the property is undergoing a site accessibility improvement. Future remodels are planned to the interiors of several guest accommodations.

About Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds

Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds has been a part of the California State Parks system since 1956.  The conference grounds are managed by Aramark Parks and Destinations, an authorized concession partner of California State Parks.

The grounds were founded by the YWCA as a young women's leadership summer camp in 1913. The 100-year-old site features the largest collection of architect Julia Morgan-designed buildings in the world, and is a National Historic Landmark.  Today, the conference grounds host leisure guests and groups of up to 1,000 in historic and newer buildings set among Monterey Pines, steps from the Asilomar Dunes Natural Preserve and Asilomar State Beach.

Learn more about Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds at www.parks.ca.gov/asilomar, www.visitasilomar.com or www.facebook.com/visitasilomar.

About Aramark Parks and Destinations

Aramark Parks and Destinations, a division of Aramark, delivers authentic and memorable experiences at national and state parks, national forests, specialty hotels, conference centers, museums and other tourist destinations throughout the United States. In partnership with its clients, Aramark Parks and Destinations seeks to enhance the guest experience by offering industry-leading hospitality, environmental stewardship, recreational and interpretive programs. For more information on Aramark Parks and Destinations visit www.aramarkparksanddestinations.com. or follow us on Twitter @TravelARAMARK.

About Page & Turnbull

Established in 1973, Page & Turnbull was one of the first architecture firms in California to dedicate its practice to historic preservation, and is known for creative integration of new design into historic buildings. The firm includes licensed architects, designers and historians, conservators and planners. All of them meet or exceed the Secretary of the Interior's Historic Preservation Professional Qualification Standards. Page & Turnbull has offices in San Francisco, Sacramento and Los Angeles. Learn more at www.page-turnbull.com.

Contact:

Lauren Pearce, RIESTER, 602-462-2252, lpearce@riester.com

Shanna Wolfe, RIESTER, 480-710-7891, swolfe@riester.com