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Commission approves courtyard pavilion for Lycée Français at landmarked Ortega Street site
Summary
The Commission approved a reversible, non–street‑visible pavilion at 1201 Ortega Street (the former Infant Shelter) intended as a year‑round student lounge; staff found the design compatible with Article 10 and the Secretary of the Interior standards.
The Historic Preservation Commission unanimously approved a certificate of appropriateness Wednesday for a 1,670‑square‑foot pavilion at 1201 Ortega Street, a designated Article 10 landmark historically known as the Infant Shelter.
Planning staff recommended approval, finding the proposed seasonal, semi‑enclosed pavilion would be non‑street‑visible, subservient to the landmark building, and reversible. David Marlott, the project architect, told commissioners the pavilion — 43 by 39 feet and roughly one story tall — is designed for flexible student use and will be heated using solar‑powered area heaters and a timber roof made from Forest Stewardship Council‑certified heavy timber.
Marlott emphasized that the structure will not alter character‑defining features of the landmark and is held off the original building with a landscaped buffer. Commissioner comments were uniformly favorable, with several members calling the intervention “sensitive” and appropriate for preserving the building’s educational use. A motion to approve with conditions was moved, seconded, and passed unanimously.
Staff will require the usual follow‑ups for drawings and conditions prior to permit issuance.
