The Santa Barbara Conservancy will present The John Pitman Memorial Award to Nicole Hernandez, architectural historian for the City of Santa Barbara, and architect William Mahan, FAIA, at a ceremony in the Pico Adobe on Aug. 11.
The John Pitman Memorial Award is given by the Santa Barbara Conservancy in honor of the late John Pitman, FAIA, founder of the Santa Barbara Conservancy, to citizens who have
displayed exemplary professional dedication in the preservation of historic architecture and environment.
Nicole Hernandez, MFA, Architectural Historian
Hernandez is being recognized for her important contributions to the protection of historic properties in Santa Barbara.
As the architectural historian for the City of Santa Barbara, she has conducted historic resource surveys, worked with public and private property owners on preservation projects, provided valuable support and recommendations to the city’s Historic Landmarks Commission, and worked with community groups on researching local history.
Most recently, she played a crucial role in the preparation of the Santa Barbara African American and Black Historic Context Statement.
Before coming to Santa Barbara in 2012, Hernandez worked as an architectural historian at Historic Denver Inc., and before that, as an architectural historian for the City of New Orleans. She has a master’s degree in historic preservation from the Savannah College of Art and Design.
William Mahan, FAIA, Architect
During his years of service on many local design and planning review boards, Mahan has been a tireless voice for preservation and a strong advocate for the highest quality in the design of new buildings.
Over the course of a long and productive career, Mahan served in leadership positions on the Courthouse Legacy Foundation and the city’s Architectural Board of Review, the Planning Commission, the Historic Landmarks Commission and the Single Family Design Board.
He is co-founder of the Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara and past president of the American Institute of Architects Santa Barbara Chapter. In addition to his community service, Mahan, now retired, was a principal in several important architectural firms in Santa Barbara, including Mahan Architects, Sharpe Mahan and Sharpe Mahan Lenny. National recognition came in 2019, when Mahan was inducted in the prestigious American Institute of Architects College of Fellows.
Santa Barbara Conservancy
Founded in 1998 by Pitman, the Santa Barbara Conservancy advocates for the recognition, preservation and revitalization of historic, architectural and cultural resources in Santa Barbara County. The Conservancy works to increase public awareness of and participation in local preservation issues. It provides information and education regarding the preservation of sites, structures and neighborhoods throughout Santa Barbara County.
The Santa Barbara Conservancy has published a variety of educational and entertaining publications devoted to the distinctive architectural and urban history of Santa Barbara, including the following titles:
“Santa Barbara — A Guide to El Pueblo Viejo” (second edition, 2016) explores the city’s extraordinary urban history by way of surveying its alluring Spanish-inspired architecture. Filled with maps, color photographs, and a wealth of historical detail and insights, the 294-page publication is available in local stores and online.
“Stone Architecture in Santa Barbara” (Arcadia Publishing, 2009) documents the homes, bridges, walls and an assortment of other stonework that line the many streets of Santa Barbara using photographs both historic and contemporary that evoke the beauty of stone construction. Many of these artistic fabrications remain a testimony to the skills and tastes of their creators and add a distinctive element to the particular ambiance that makes Santa Barbara a special place. Richard Oglesby, Ph.D., is the author.
“Coloring Santa Barbara” (2017) aims to have a little fun! Twelve members of Santa Barbara’s architectural design community gave of their time to create this sometimes romantic, sometimes whimsical book of illustrations depicting this place we call home. It’s available in local stores and online.
— Steve Hausz is the board president for the Santa Barbara Conservancy.