Gregory Bateson Building wins prestigious modernism conservation award
September 9, 2026
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We're pleased to announce that the Gregory Bateson Building renovation project has received an award of excellence in the Docomomo Modernism in America Awards.
This awards program recognizes the outstanding efforts to preserve, restore and document midcentury and modern architecture, structures and landscapes across the United States, celebrating projects that champion the longevity and appreciation of our modern heritage.
Preserving a pioneer of sustainable design
Located in Sacramento, California, the Gregory Bateson Building was originally completed in 1981 by legendary architect Sim Van der Ryn. At the time, it was widely celebrated as a pioneer of passive solar design and was considered one of the greenest office buildings in the country.
Decades later, the building required a comprehensive modernization to meet contemporary standards. The renovation — led by CannonDesign in partnership with McCarthy Building Companies and the California Department of General Services (DGS) — embraces the building’s pioneering spirit while updating it for 21st-century performance and wellness. As one of the first progressive design-build projects in DGS history, the project serves as a model for how historic preservation and high-performance sustainability can seamlessly coexist with a highly qualified team advancing best value and streamlined project delivery.
Modern performance meets historic integrity
The award-winning renovation successfully balances the building's historic character with modern envelope design and enhanced environmental performance. The project carefully retains the historic appearance of the building's unique exterior and its massive central atrium. This includes preserving the iconic fabric tubes hanging in the atrium, which were originally designed as passive circulation fans. By modernizing the building's infrastructure while optimizing its original passive design features and leveraging renewable energy partnerships, the Gregory Bateson Building Renovation achieved LEED Platinum certification and net-zero energy performance.
The Docomomo Award of Excellence joins a growing list of accolades for the Gregory Bateson Building, which has also been honored with a Metropolis Planet Positive Award, the State Government Leadership Award at the Sustainable Facilities Forum, and an ENR Regional Best Projects Award of Merit.
We are honored to be a part of the historic legacy of this energy efficient office building and contribute to design excellence and fiscal responsibility for the State of California’s real estate portfolio.
