BALBOA PARK CONSERVANCY: Stewards of the Park

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1 C O N S E R VA N C Y B o ta n i c a l B u i l d i n g

2 San Diego s Crown Jewel Since its inception, Balboa Park has been a source of pride and inspiration for San Diego. The park was created in 1868 when San Diego s civic leaders had the foresight to set aside 1,400 acres of land in their fledgling city for a public park. This scrub-filled mesa overlooked newly established downtown San Diego. Shortly after the turn of the century, the park served as a source of inspiration once again. City leaders embarked on an ambitious plan to remake the center of Balboa Park and host the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. They hired renowned architect Bertram Goodhue to create a worldclass attraction to entice visitors from around the world to come to San Diego. He designed a City of Palaces in the Spanish Colonial Revival style on the park s central mesa and created much of the park that we know today. The 1915 Expo was a tremendous success, attracting nearly four million visitors to this city of 50,000 residents, truly putting San Diego on the map. BALBOA PARK CONSERVANCY: Stewards of the Park Over the years, Balboa Park, like other public parks in the nation, has suffered from a sharp decline in public resources needed for ongoing maintenance and repairs. Recognizing that a new model was needed to sustain Balboa Park for future generations, the city s elected leaders, private philanthropic foundations, and the Balboa Park Committee (an advisory group overseeing park planning) worked together to form The Balboa Park Conservancy. Based on a model similar to the Central Park Conservancy, the organization that rescued New York City s Central Park from a similar decline of public financial support, The Balboa Park Conservancy is charged with raising funds to restore and enhance Balboa Park for the benefit of future generations. In September 2013, The Conservancy s Board of Directors selected its first major project - the restoration and enhancement of the Botanical Building constructed in Today, Balboa Park is the crown jewel of San Diego an iconic destination that serves both residents and visitors alike. It is home to more than 100 arts, cultural, youth, and recreational programs and institutions, and provides acres of natural and landscaped open space: a beautiful oasis in the midst of the city. It is at once a key element of the region s identity, a recognized national historic landmark, the city s cultural core, an urban and community park, and a source of significant economic benefit. Native to high elevations in the Andes and the mountaintops of Central America Odonts topple the myth that orchids only grow in warm greenhouses

3 The Largest Lath House in the World Situated at the center of Balboa Park s Central Mesa, the Botanical Building is one of the most frequented and photographed structures in the park. An estimated 500,000 to 750,000 people visit the Botanical Building each year, making it among the top cultural attractions in all of San Diego County. The Botanical Building was constructed for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. It was one of four structures intended to remain permanent; the others being the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, the California Building, and the Cabrillo Bridge. Once billed as the largest lath house in the world, it is 240 feet long, 60 feet wide, and 80 feet tall. Today, plantings in the Botanical Building include more than 2,100 permanent varieties; from fascinating collections of cycads to ferns, orchids, and palms. The Botanical Building also hosts several of the Park s most vibrant seasonal flower displays; a fun, just-for-kids area that features a Carnivorous Plant Bog with Pitcher Plants and Venus Fly Traps; and Touch and Smell Gardens that include varieties of plants that possess surprising aromas such as chocolate and lemon mint. The Botanical Building is one of the few free attractions in Balboa Park and has remained a consistently popular cultural destination for nearly a century. The Botanical Building is one of the few free attractions in Balboa Park and is among the city s most visited cultural destinations. Building Changes and Disrepair The Botanical Building is one of San Diego s most visited, beloved and recognized structures, but severe constraints in public funding have seriously impacted the building s appearance and infrastructure so much so that it is currently rated in Poor condition, according to the Facility Condition Index. Serious issues include: Mildew, termites and corrosion are ongoing problems. Hand watering and an inefficient spray irrigation system contribute to the deterioration of the wood superstructure. Framing members are split and damaged by dry rot. Steel lag bolts are rusted through and failing. Lath slats in the structure are loose and damaged. Plaster walls are cracked. Paint and stain finishes are faded. The facility has limited interior lighting, so it must be closed to all public access at sundown. Over the years, significant changes were made to the building that altered its original appearance. Decorative arcades that flanked either side of the building s entrance in 1914 were removed; the north conservatory wing was demolished; and colored lighting elements installed during the 1935 California-Pacific International Exposition were eliminated. Through this restoration project, The Conservancy will restore the Botanical Building to its original splendor and enhance its place as a centerpiece of Balboa Park.

4 The restored Botanical Building will be a showcase for environmental sustainability, provide ongoing educational opportunities for the public free of charge, and ensure that one of the most visited areas of the park can be enjoyed by the public for another 100 years.

5 Restoring the Botanical Building Balboa Park s centennial celebration of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition will draw attention to one of the park s most historic and iconic buildings. The time is right to restore and repair the building s structure, enhance the visitor experience, and incorporate environmentally sustainable measures to ensure the enjoyment of the Botanical Building for generations to come. The Botanical Building Restoration and Enhancement Project will accomplish the following: Recreate the historic arcades on either side of the entrance Illuminate both the interior and exterior by installing energy-efficient, thematic color lighting Implement water and energy saving measures to promote environmental sustainability Install a state-of-the-art irrigation system Enhance the botanical collection Repair and enhance the building structure and architectural elements (wood lath, cupola, plaster/concrete, and wood and steel beams) Once restored, the Botanical Building will offer an expanded schedule for free public access while also affording the opportunity to generate income from private meetings, celebrations and special events to fund the building s ongoing maintenance and repairs. The Kniphofia genus is named after Johann Hieronymus Kniphof, an 18th-century German physician and botanist.

6 Giving Opportunities Your financial support for this important project will restore the Botanical Building to its original design and enhance the visitor experience for generations to come. Our goal is to raise nearly $3 million and complete the project in Our Project Partners The Botanical Building Restoration and Enhancement Project could not be accomplished without the generous collaboration and support of our project partners. The City of San Diego San Diego Zoo Global Project Planning & Evaluation $300,000 Recreation of Historic Arcades $950,000 Energy Efficient Lighting & Electrical Upgrades $310,000 Water Conservation & State-of-the-Art Irrigation System $175,000 Building Restoration $750,000 Botanical Collection Enhancements $150,000 Building Sustainability $300,000 The Friends of Balboa Park The Committee of One Hundred Design Evaluation Botanical collection planning Window features in arches Doors at main entry and sides Restore missing ornamentation Original color scheme Interior lighting Illuminating plant collection Thematic colored exterior lighting Water Wise features Drip lines and micro sprayers Irrigation controls for individual exhibits Sensors for moisture and humidty control Restoring wood detailing, including cupola and lath work Repairing cracked plaster and concrete Fixing termite and water damage Water features/ fountains Exhibit upgrades Additional plant species Signage Ongoing building preservation Plant collection care and maintenance Energy efficient LED lighting There are about 60 true species of phalaenopsis; native to tropical Asian countries including the Philippines, Borneo, Java and elsewhere.

7 C ONSERV ANCY Botanical Building 1549 El Prado, Suite 1 San Diego, CA (619) balboapark.org/conservancy