Historic restoration and structural rehabilitation.
Landmark churches, coastal storefronts, a cultural center and a relocated historic home, restored by Burge Corporation since 1977.
Keep what makes the building matter.
Historic work means strengthening and updating a building while keeping the materials and details that give it value. Burge has done it on Spanish mission churches, Coast Highway storefronts and a bluff-top estate.
Structural restoration
Structural steel, strengthening and repairs that bring older buildings up to current use, as at Laguna Beach Presbyterian Church and the Heisler Building.
Seismic retrofit →Waterproofing and exteriors
Roofs, walls and openings restored so historic buildings stay dry and sound.
Historic finishes
Plaster, doors, stained glass, cupolas and courtyard elements repaired or recreated, such as the bell tower cupola in Laguna Beach and the doors and plaster at Casa Romantica.
New uses in old buildings
Historic buildings restored for restaurants and public use, including Urth Caffé and Rock’N Fish.
Hospitality work →Accessibility upgrades
Lifts and access improvements added with care, like the accessibility lift at Laguna Beach Presbyterian Church.
Building relocation
The Sam and Alfreda Maloof home and woodshop were relocated in Rancho Cucamonga to make way for the 210 freeway.
How a project runs.
Burge can join at any stage, from early budgeting to a design that is ready to build.
Condition and scope
Walk the building with your architect and engineer to set what is kept, repaired and replaced.
Budget and sequence
Pricing and a sequence that protects historic material during structural work.
Build
Structural, envelope and finish work by crews used to older buildings.
Turn over
Inspections, punch list and documentation for the owner.
Historic restoration projects by Burge.
Open any card for the full story.
Laguna Beach Presbyterian Church
Structural, waterproofing and finish restoration of the 1927 Spanish mission style church, including structural steel, an accessibility lift, stained glass and the bell tower cupola.
Urth Caffé
Complete historic and structural restoration of a 3,000 SF historic building, a new restaurant interior, a 500 SF basement addition and new site improvements.
Rock’N Fish and the Heisler Building
Historic and structural restoration of the Heisler Building on South Coast Highway, plus tenant improvements for a 6,100 SF restaurant and bar.
Casa Romantica Cultural Center
Restoration at the historic estate on the San Clemente bluff: doors, plaster and courtyard elements, new underground utilities, and site and landscape work including palm transplants.
Questions owners ask first.
Straight answers before you call.
What historic buildings has Burge restored?
Projects include the 1927 Laguna Beach Presbyterian Church, the Heisler Building on South Coast Highway, the historic building that houses Urth Caffé, Casa Romantica in San Clemente, the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles and the Masonic Temple in Fullerton.
Can you strengthen a historic building without losing its character?
That is the goal of every historic project. Structural work is planned with the architect and engineer so new steel and connections are placed to protect visible historic material.
Do you work on occupied historic buildings like churches?
Yes. Laguna Beach Presbyterian Church is an active congregation, and work there covered the structure, waterproofing, finishes, stained glass and the bell tower cupola.
Can a historic building become a restaurant or store?
Yes. Urth Caffé and Rock’N Fish in Laguna Beach are both restaurants in restored historic buildings built out by Burge.