John Canning & Co. Praised for Andrew W. Mellon Restoration Through the DC Award for Excellence

CHESHIRE, Conn. - Jan. 29, 2025 - PRLog -- The Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium restoration, led by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), and project architect Citadel DCA, contracted John Canning & Co. as the primary subcontractor alongside several others, leading to The District of Columbia Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation for Design and Construction.

For this award winning preservation project at the Mellon Auditorium, John Canning & Co. was brought in with several contractors and subcontractors, mainly from Washington, DC, to preserve its architectural and historical integrity.

Designed by architect Arthur Brown Jr. and completed in 1934, the Mellon Auditorium is a registered National Historic Landmark, representing the Classical Revival style in the Federal Triangle. Built as part of the McMillan Plan to redevelop Washington, DC, as the nation's capital, the building has hosted various events, from weddings to inaugural balls. The landmark features a grand auditorium with Sphinx stone columns and Tennessee Pink Marble. However, over time, the auditorium suffered significant deterioration; thus, when GSA financed a restoration for the first time in 80 years, John Canning & Co. was thrilled to be part of the group of contractors to revitalize it for future generations.

A significant element of the restoration was the auditorium's Sphinx stone feature. John Canning & Co. skillfully incorporated crushed oyster shells, a material found in Sphinx stone, repaired the cracks, stabilized the mortar joints, and used inpainting techniques to match the stone's original colors. Other critical undertakings by Canning included an enormous amount of re-gilding, and decorative painting that included a simulated stone finish treatment to have the appearance of cast stone on plaster entablatures.
In addition to Canning's work, Universal Floors, Inc. patched the 1998 flooring with new quarter-swan white oak, and the Craftsman Group refinished the oak doors with 24-karat gold gilding. Likewise, Rugo Stone focused on stone restoration, Upton Studios focused on metal conservation, Keystone Preservation provided AIC conservator services, and Richbrook Conservation assisted with ceiling paint analysis.

GSA's investment in the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium highlights the importance of restoration because it preserves historic landmarks, serves communities, and promotes economic growth. We are grateful to the GSA for entrusting us and are proud that the District of Columbia can recognize our work alongside our collaborators.

The DC Preservation League has aimed to preserve, protect, and enhance historic architectural buildings in Washington, DC, for over 50 years and awards any exceptional historic preservation projects that honor their mission through dedication and innovation.

John Canning & Co. is a nationally ranked conservation and restoration studio with over 45 years of experience preserving historic landmarks around the United States. The company, specializes in architectural arts and finishing services such as ornamental plaster restoration, gilding, historic woodwork, and paint analysis. http://www.johncanningco.com