Fairfield’s Old Solano County Courthouse will be recognized in a ceremony Oct. 2 with a Preservation Design Award from the California Preservation Foundation, according to a statement by the Solano County Superior Court.

The California Preservation Foundation acknowledges exemplary work in historic preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, sustainability, studies, reports and other significant categories in the preservation field through its Preservation Design Awards, according to the statement.

The award to the Solano Superior Court is in the rehabilitation category for excellence in historic preservation. The court statement said the California Preservation Design Awards is a statewide hallmark that showcases preservation design excellence by firms and individuals.

The courthouse was designed by E.C. Hemmings and is considered an outstanding example of Beaux Arts architecture expressed in a civic building.

The 1911 building was a functioning courthouse until the 1970s. It returned to that use in September 2014 after a restoration expenditure of $29,688,000.

The Old Solano Courthouse renovation was the first project funded by Senate Bill 1407 to begin construction. Completion took about 18 months.

The architectural firm of Hornberger and Worstell, San Francisco, designed the restoration. That company has been recognized for its achievements in restoration and modernization of historic buildings.

The building was donated to the State Judicial Branch from Solano County, and the county gave more than $3 million in support of the project so the legal needs of the county’s residents could be met.

“The high level of collaboration between the court, the architects, the construction manager and general contractor, the county and Judicial Council staff contributed to the success of this project,” Presiding Judge E. Bradley Nelson said.

“The Old Solano Courthouse, inside and out, is a sight to behold,” he added.

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