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The County Administrative Center (CAC) has earned the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award, the highest national recognition bestowed by the Nation Trust for Historic Preservation. The Driehaus award honors the “best of the Best” preservation projects across the country for exceptional efforts that spotlight innovative approaches, cutting-edge technologies, and meaningful community revitalization.
The national award is one of six major honors celebrating the CAC renovation project. In total, the effort was recognized by the:
National Trust for Historic Preservation: Richard H. Driehaus Foundation National Preservation Award
Save Our Heritage Organization: People in Preservation Award – which also recognizes Project Manager Kathryn Moroz
City of San Diego: Preservation Project Award
AIA San Diego Honor Award: Preservation
Engineering News Record California Region: Best Project in Renovation/Restoration category
Society of American Registered Architects: National Design Award- Renovation, Restoration, and Adaptive Re-use category
Originally opened in 1938 as a New Deal project approved by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the CAC had become significantly outdated by 2015.
Instead of replacing the landmark, the County chose preservation. Over more than 20 carefully planned phases, the team modernized the 315,000 square-foot building while restoring the historic features that define its character and connect it to San Diego’s history.
The renovation included new lighting, fire-life-safety systems, security enhancements, seismic reinforcement, ADA improvements, HVAC upgrades, an emergency generator and fully modernized Board Chambers. These upgrades ensure the CAC remains efficient, resilient, and accessible while preserving the timeless beauty that makes it the region’s iconic “jewel on the bay.”
The projects six awards reflect both the quality of the work and the County’s commitment to honoring the past while investing in the future.