Private Sector

Construction began on the Mitau Building in 1915. Before construction was completed the building was sold to retail grocery giant Henry Mitau in what was at the time the largest business property sold in Sacramento from 1913-1914.

Designed with Classical and Mediterranean Revival influences, it was diagonally cut with a corner shape that was simple yet dignified, the decoration although classical was not derived from any one academic style. The projecting cornice was rich with ornamentation including large classical drapery above the entrance. E.C. Hemmings was the architect that acquired the terra tiles from Gladding McBean. By 1916, the project was complete.

In October 1984, the building caught on fire and flames accelerated quickly due to aging law books that were on the shelves of numerous law offices that occupied the building.

 

Pictures courtesy of the Center for Sacramento History and the Sacramento Public Library.

A cascading scheme of one-, two- and three-story wings proved to be the most efficient layout for the lodge building relative to the sloping site. The congregate apartments and assisted living units were organized as wings off the core common areas of entry lobby, living, dining and multipurpose rooms and other common and support areas. The wings allowed the units views of the surrounding trees on the site or of the interior courtyard in the congregate wing. This layout also allowed for multiple, secure resident entries off parking areas for ease of access to the units.

As the design progressed, numerous neighborhood and community meetings were held over many months to mitigate potential objections to the large-scale project. A lengthy agency review and public approval process was also required before the project could begin construction.

The design and construction team worked together throughout the design and construction of the lodge facility and recreation building to monitor construction costs. The team worked as well with the Owner to find opportunities for cost savings and eventually keep the project within the initial construction budget.

Built in 1966 as a retail store by Dunn Edwards Paints, the team of Nacht & Lewis, Buehler & Buehler Structural Engineers and The Heller Company saw the makings of a dynamic professional office building, a new home for the Nacht & Lewis and Buehler & Buehler offices. The design team sought to bring a new image and vitality to the structure while respecting the strengths and character of the original building. The previously painted concrete block was sandblasted and left exposed for its rich natural color and texture. The exterior pilasters at the two-story glass storefronts were painted purple to accentuate their rhythm. Perforated steel plate guardrails were painted bright yellow, and a metal sculpture enlivened the corner entry to the building. Finally, LED lighting was introduced behind the exterior signage to illuminate the north and west facades and the streets below.

Once inside, natural light, exterior views, openness and transparency are readily apparent in the remodeled interior. The 20-feet high north and west glass walls provide natural light for the interior spaces on both floors. A canted window wall at the second floor adds to the drama of the space and openness between floors. The exposed ceiling structure adds detail and openness. White, suspended “clouds” of curved perforated metal hover above work areas. Light reflected off the clouds from fixtures at each workstation enhance the ambience of the work environment. A new elevator, sheathed in translucent panels, acts as a pivot point for the elegant, original curved stair with its refinished wood treads and modern cable guardrails. An interior blue tinted glass wall completes the composition adding transparency and definition to the building lobby.

Historical photos appear courtesy of the Center for Sacramento History.

KXTV’s “aesthetic” broadcast tower was thought to be the first of its kind in North America, reflecting the future of digital broadcasting.  Channel 10′s previous broadcast tower was only 70 feet tall, relatively insufficient compared with others in the area that rose as much as 550 feet. Downtown Sacramento high-rise buildings and trees surrounding KXTV’s property were becoming an increasing problem, causing interruptions of the station’s analog signals. The new tower corrected these problems and ensured the integrity of the station’s digital transmission capabilities. KXTV, long an anchor facility and advocate of improvements to the Broadway Street Corridor, elected not to construct a conventional broadcast tower, examples of which may be seen throughout Sacramento. The tower design melded the demanding engineering requirements for communications towers with sensitivity to the suggestions of the surrounding businesses and residents while creating an icon and gateway for the Broadway Street Corridor. Vibrant colors and illumination at night draw attention to the geometrical form as a landmark and “public art” in Sacramento.

The steel tower is triangular and tops out at 302 feet at the top of the pole mounted FAA warning light. Six and eight feet diameter broadcast dishes, placed at two levels of the tower and shielded from view behind radio frequency panels, send and receive the digital television signals. Ample room was provided for Personal Communications System (PCS) companies to lease space for mounting the antennas that support mobile devices – reducing the need to build smaller communication towers in the future in the area.

The Curtis Oaks Christian Church was designed by Starks and Flanders and built in 1941 for $35,000. The church was located at Freeport Boulevard and 5th Avenue in the Curtis Park neighborhood of Sacramento. Under unknown circumstances the church burned down in 1984. According to the Sacramento Bee, it took four dozen firefighters 90 minutes to extinguish the fire.

Thank you to Joanna and Maggie Valentine for researching this project.

The Whelan Office Buildings were located in the Palo Alto Industrial Park near Stanford University.

The property was developed as a professional office building complex by John Whelan who received a lease from Stanford University in 1957 with the buildings being completed in 1961. The Structures housed a variety of tenants including physicians, psychologists, and dentist as well as lawyers, engineers, and accountants.

The project was featured in the magazine Arts and Architecture, March 1957.

While being surveyed for Architectural significance in 2010 by City of Palo Alto the buildings were misidentified as the work of Modernist Don Knorr in their historic dismissal of the buildings for the environmental review of the new Lucille Stanford Children’s Hospital.

Special thanks to Justin Wood for bringing this project back to life through his excellent research.

Portions of this post are from the Environmental Impact Report by Steve Turner, Advance Planning Manger for the City of Palo Alto.

The California Fruit Building was considered Sacramento’s first true high-rise building standing at 10 stories high. Based in San Francisco, it is believed that Charles Kaiser had partnered with Hemming’s and his draftsmen due to their knowledge of Sacramento to complete the building. Following the World War I, Kaiser changed his surname to avoid the stigmatism of being German. He was referenced as both Kaiser and Sumner.

The original drawings were found within the Nacht & Lewis archives due to E.C. Hemmings association with Charles Kaiser.

The project is also known as Store & Office Building For The Merchants Investment Bank.

https://nachtlewis.com/hemmings-hidden-files/

Originally built for World Savings Bank in 1982, this 42,000 sq. ft. bank sits in what was once known as the World Savings Plaza. The facility is now being occupied by a Wells Fargo Branch Bank.

This bank is an example of postmodernism architecture, a style which was popular in the early 1980’s. Many of the work of Nacht & Lewis designed at this time were greatly influenced by this style. Postmodernism continues to have an effect on local architecture today and is evident in the Sacramento skyline.

This was originally designed as a local branch for First Interstate Bank in 1982. The facility is now occupied by Chase Bank.

Originally designed in 1979, this shopping center was formally known as the Hewitt Shopping Center. It sits across from McKinely Park in downtown Sacramento and currently houses various shops and a restaurant.

This facility was the former home to Nacht & Lewis that was tailored to facilitate the operations of architects and engineers, and function as a traditional multi-tenant office building. The project includes an aluminum and glass exterior. The materials provides a reflective quality that reduces cooling and keeps utility costs to a minimum. Each office opens into a central atrium and provides natural daylight to the interior offices.

Winner of the  AIA – Central Valley Chapter – Craftsmanship Award.

This project was a proposal for The Pacific Telephone Company’s new equipment building in Grass Valley, California. The outline of the site can still be seen in the preliminary proposal for the facility.

In 1977, our firm designed additional space for the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company’s office in Vallejo. This structure was primarily a phone equipment and switching facility. An expansion to the main office was also designed by the firm.

Richard Lewis, former principal, designed and built this own home in the Fair Oaks community of North Ridge Country Club Estates in Sacramento. The 3,000 sq. ft. home was the winner of the Masonry Institute Merit Award.

Constructed in 1970 for Pacific Telephone Company, this structure currently serves as the PG&E Customer Service Center for the City of Merced.

Starks, Jozens, and Nacht designed the Scottish Rite Temple in 1963. It was originally intended to be designed in the ornate Beaux Arts style. Due to budgetary concerns, it wasn’t able to be fully accomplished. Starks, Jozens, and Nacht were the architects on phase two in 1965 and an addition in 1968.

Originally designed in 1959 to house insurance companies and law firms, this office building is currently a mixed use building with a restaurant on the first floor and offices above.

Designed in 1959 by Starks, Jozens, and Nacht, the motel is located in the Civic Center area of San Francisco. The motel was originally called the Graft and Light Motel. Today it is known as the Oasis Motel.