Historic Preservation of the Casa Code Adobe Renovation

Renovation, Restoration, Transformation, and Preservation are the key words of James A. McBride, II, Architect; since he has arrived in Palm Springs. Prior to his arrival; National and International travels of adventure and architecture has filled his life with treasures and memories from working with his father's real estate, building and development company in Houston, Texas; to working in Aspen on the Snowmass Ski Village, and other projects; to the Norfolk, Virginia Cultural Theater and Convention Center; to Central America with U. S. A.I.D. of the U. S. State Department, as the Architectural Consultant to the low cost housing program. While residing in Guatemala McBride received permission from the Guatemalan government to produce rubbings of Mayan stone carvings exhibited in the Houston Museum of Fine Arts and several traveling exhibits to various museums. Returning to Houston McBride developed the Texas Traditional Homes concept selected for the National Home Builders Tour; and then on to Indonesia to develop a town community on the Island of Borneo; as the coordinating architect for the Pertamina Oil Company, the Huffington Family Oil business; Huffco. While in Indonesia McBride then reproduced Mayan designs into Batik utilizing skilled Indonesian Batik Artisans to produce the designs from the rubbings. Then returning to the U.S.A. and on to California. Jim's fraternity brother owned a restaurant and nightclub chain named "Bentley's" and "Denim and Diamonds" which brought the architect to California to fulfill a long time desire to live and work in this state of great variety and natural beauty. Designing "the Hop" for the Righteous Brothers and remodeling the JackKramer Tennis Club and the Laguna Niguel Racquet Club added to his pleasure of design and construction in California.

His most recent project has been the remodeled preservation of an historic 1916 adobe of the Casa Code property with owners Frank Tysen and Therese Hayes. Notables such as Lawrence Tibbitt and Charlie Chaplan entertained their friends in The Adobe. Tom Mix and General Patton frequented the property. Originally, a relative of Buffalo Bill Cody founded the property which has now established the name Casa Cody, Hotel Bed an Breakfast.

In order to obtain a building permit for the adobe restoration, it was necessary to innovate a structural solution for the adobe classified as a non-structural unreinforced building in California. "It took a bit of genius" according to Jack Titus to salvage its preservation and historic value.

McBride's solution was to leave the existing building intact and to construct a new structural system surrounding the building as a veranda and to provide new dividing room walls as shear walls connected to a new concrete foundation and to new roof framing system, above the existing roof. The space between the existing roof and new roof would allow space for new required insulation to meet current energy requirements and to locate the mechanical heating and air conditioning system, plumbing lines and electrical wiring, while allowing the existing roof to remain intact below the new roof. The existing roof framing was exposed to become the ceiling of the new completed adobe.

McBride has designed and transformed other residences in the Las Palmas area and Palm Springs on Vereda Norte, Monte Vista and Cantina Way. McBride is presently converting the former Desert Hot Springs Movie Theater into the 7th Day Adventist Church, spearheaded by their Pastor and congregation, the majority of the construction work is volunteer church members. The construction work of the church began in 1994 and has been constructed in three building phases which will be completed by the year 2000; another marvel of transformation by the energy and spiritual motivation of the church members. Pastor, and Architect. In each case unique transformations have occurred. McBride attributes his valuable design contributions to these residences and church as a result of his experience of travel and work in a variety of locations termed as "An Odyssey of Adventure and Architecture."