Located in the heart of Oakland’s Uptown area, the Mary A. Bowles Building is a unique example of vintage craftsmanship and timeless artistic expression

KTA provided the client with a full range of architectural and limited construction management services to complete the task of integrating the building, originally designed in high Art Deco style by Douglass Dacre Stone, into Oakland’s present day office and retail community.

Closely studying the original 1930 working drawings, KTA worked to reverse the unfortunate renovation of the southern half of each of the building’s two street facades.

Working with both the client and certain historic parameters, KTA proposed a renovation to allow the building to gracefully re-enter the unique fabric of Oakland’s diverse street facades as beautiful as on its opening day.

KTA’s goal was to refashion the Bowles building by harmoniously melding modern functionality and the original classic Deco appearance. With its delicately modeled brilliant green terra cotta the Bowles building was carefully restored to its classic appearance, fully reestablishing its streetscape presence on the historic Broadway corridor.

The building includes approximately 25,000 square feet of office and retail space in two stories and a high-ceiling Basement level. Renovation plans included new restrooms, storefront and façade work, seismic, fire protection and ADA upgrades.

Oakland Heritage Alliance Award Winner

Art Deco Society of California Award Winner

• Status : Completed
• Client : Parviz Poustincian
• Location : 1721 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94611