Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Expert Architectural Design & Preservation Services
Founded in 1973, Page & Turnbull is a full-service architecture, design, planning, and preservation firm dedicated to transforming the built environment. Our multidisciplinary team of architects, planners, architectural historians, and conservators specializes in adapting historic structures for contemporary use while creating innovative new designs. With offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Jose, we serve clients across the United States, balancing historic character with modern functionality. Our collaborative approach integrates technical expertise, sustainability, and community engagement to deliver projects that meet client goals while preserving cultural heritage.We have pioneered landmark preservation efforts, including the rehabilitation of Frank Lloyd Wright's Anderton Court Shops and the development of San Francisco's New Downtown Plan. Our commitment to sustainability extends beyond projects to office practices, emphasizing building reuse as a core green design principle. Through advanced technology and materials research, we provide solutions that ensure the longevity of historic structures while addressing contemporary challenges like climate resilience. Our work spans civic, cultural, educational, and residential sectors, reflecting a diverse portfolio of award-winning projects recognized for their innovation and preservation excellence.
Services
Historic Preservation
Adaptive Reuse
Sustainable Design
Cultural Resource Planning
Preservation Technology
Details
- Year established: 1973
Highlights and features
- We offer 50+ years of experience in historic preservation and adaptive reuse.
- Our multidisciplinary team combines architecture, planning, and materials conservation expertise.
- We prioritize sustainability through building reuse and climate-resilient design.
- Our award-winning work includes Frank Lloyd Wright rehabilitation projects.
- We maintain transparent project management with defined schedules and budgets.
Associations and certifications
- Women Business Enterprise (WBE)
- Small Business (SB)
Services
Historic Preservation
Specializing in preserving architecturally significant structures, we combine historical research with technical expertise to maintain original character while meeting modern standards. Our team navigates regulatory requirements for landmark designations and tax credits, ensuring projects comply with Secretary of the Interior's Standards. We create detailed historic structure reports and preservation plans that guide long-term stewardship of culturally important buildings.
Adaptive Reuse
Transforming historic buildings for contemporary use, we develop creative solutions that extend structural lifespans while maintaining architectural integrity. Our approach balances code compliance with preservation requirements, integrating modern systems without compromising historic fabric. Projects include converting commercial landmarks into retail spaces and repurposing institutional buildings for residential use while maintaining their cultural significance.
Sustainable Design
We implement environmentally responsible practices through building reuse, which reduces construction waste and embodied carbon. Our sustainable approach extends to material selection, energy-efficient systems integration, and climate resilience strategies. We prioritize life-cycle costing analysis and develop solutions that align with LEED standards while maintaining historic building performance characteristics.
Cultural Resource Planning
Our planning services assess historic significance and develop strategies for preserving cultural landscapes. We conduct Section 106 compliance reviews, prepare environmental impact assessments under CEQA, and create context statements for historic districts. We assist clients with navigating regulatory processes for public and private projects affecting culturally significant properties.
Preservation Technology
We specialize in analyzing and repairing historic building materials through scientific evaluation and traditional craftsmanship. Our conservators develop treatment protocols for masonry, wood, and metal components, focusing on reversible interventions that maintain structural integrity. We employ advanced diagnostic tools to assess deterioration patterns and create long-term maintenance plans for historic facades and architectural elements.
People
Charles Page
Founder
Established the firm in 1973, pioneering historic preservation efforts in San Francisco. His work on the Splendid Survivors survey shaped the city's development policies and established the firm's reputation for combining research with practical design solutions.
Jay Turnbull
Director of Architecture
Joined in 1981, he expanded the firm's design capabilities while maintaining its preservation focus. Under his leadership, the firm developed expertise in navigating complex entitlement processes and delivering innovative solutions for historic structures.
Jim McLane
Technical Director
Leads technical preservation initiatives, specializing in materials conservation and climate resilience strategies. He directs collaborative projects integrating sustainable practices with historic building rehabilitation requirements.
Heather Mangrum
Project Manager
Manages complex preservation projects, including the Frank Lloyd Wright Anderton Court rehabilitation. She coordinates multidisciplinary teams to balance historic integrity with modern functionality in high-profile restoration efforts.
John Lesak
Principal
Oversees major architectural projects and preservation initiatives. Recognized for his work on landmark commercial buildings, he brings technical expertise and creative problem-solving to complex rehabilitation assignments.
Questions
What types of projects does Page & Turnbull specialize in?
We specialize in historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and sustainable design for both historic and contemporary structures across civic, cultural, educational, and residential sectors.
Can you help with landmark designation processes?
Yes, we guide clients through landmark designation, Section 106 compliance, and tax credit applications, leveraging our expertise in National Register nominations and regulatory requirements.
Do you work outside California?
While based in California, we serve clients nationwide, with projects spanning from New York to Hawaii, maintaining consistent preservation standards across diverse geographic contexts.
How do you approach sustainability in historic buildings?
We prioritize building reuse as the ultimate sustainability strategy, complementing it with energy-efficient systems integration and climate resilience planning tailored to historic structures.
What sets your firm apart from other architecture practices?
Our unique combination of historic preservation expertise, technical materials conservation knowledge, and commitment to community-driven design distinguishes our multidisciplinary approach to architectural challenges.
Reviews (1)
S. Dirk Schafer
Jan 24, 2016
Report
A good crew of very bright people working to preserve our inherited environment for the next generation.
