ArchitecTour 2018 celebrates the fabric of downtown Santa Barbara
Thursday afternoon turned out to be the perfect day, weather-wise, to view downtown from the tallest building in Banta Barbara.
Owners of the eighth and ninth floor penthouse atop the historic Granada Theater graciously allowed our cameras inside for a preview of Saturday’s ArchitecTour event.
“This is a one-time opportunity to come see this and even to go up on the rooftop deck and get a look at downtown Santa Barbara from the tallest building in Santa Barbara,” said event chairperson Karen Feeney. “That’s very exciting.”
The 360-degree panorama includes a birds-eye-view above the clock tower at the historic courthouse, a seemingly eye-level vantage point of the Arlington Theater spire and a rare view of the roofless Santa Barbara Art Museum as jack-hammers below chewed away at the ongoing renovation.
The 5,000 square foot penthouse is one of two private residences in the theater building and one of 12 properties open Saturday, October 6, for the 10th annual event, celebrating the fabric of our downtown area, including historic properties and hidden gems.
“Everybody’s talking about how many empty storefronts there are on State Street and how downtown Santa Barbara has lost its vibrancy,” Feeney said. “But this Saturday, the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects is going to be sharing a new vision of downtown and all the range of possibilities for living, working and playing downtown.”
A new, multi-use building on Salsipuedes Street and a 700 square foot historic bungalow on Haley Street are also included.
Some of the sites on the tour will have interactive stations showing concepts that came out of last year’s AIASB “Make State Street Work” collaborative charrette. Organizers say the public is welcome to contribute their thoughts and experiences while exploring the heart of downtown and its architecture.
Ticket prices range from $25 dollars to $80 dollars. To view the locations and for more information, click here: http://aiasb.com/architectours-2018.
