Pasadena Beautiful Foundation Recognizes Excellence in Local Architecture and Landscape Design

The Pasadena Beautiful Foundation is planning to recognize eight local properties for exceptional architecture and landscape design during its Commercial Design Awards ceremony on Thursday.

The awards ceremony, which is hosted by the group every five years, will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Maxwell House, 55. S. Grand Ave., organizers said.

This year’s honorees are the Neuroscience Research Building at Caltech, Pasadena Christian School, the Condominiums at California and Orange Grove, McDonald’s restaurant at Washington Boulevard and Altadena Drive, Shatford Library at Pasadena City College, the Crown City Rehabilitation Institute, the Gardens on Hill and the Huntington Medical Research Institute, PBF Commercial Design Awards Chair Chuck Livingstone said.

The awards are meant to recognize those who have worked to improve the city through architecture and design, PBF President Brad Hanson said.

The goal of the awards, as well as the organization, is “to beautify the city of Pasadena by planting trees, working in the city’s parks and awarding Golden Arrow Awards to homeowners as a way to inspire whole neighborhoods to look their best,” he said.

“We are a 60-year-old charity that believes through civic engagement we can make a difference in making Pasadena a better place to live and raise a family,” Hanson said.

The mission is well-received in the city, he added.

“Many of us at Pasadena Beautiful have noticed the dramatic increase in use of the public outdoor spaces within Pasadena,” according to Hanson. “The increasing awareness of climate change and the need to lessen our carbon footprint has led to an increase in the request for tree plantings throughout the city.”

Over the past two years, PBF’s membership has gone from 15 members to 28, he said.

And there’s always room for more, Hanson said.

“By joining Pasadena Beautiful Foundation as a member people will be helping us make our city the best it can be. They will also have a chance to meet other people of like minded interests during our frequent get togethers,” he said. “ In other words, you can make the city a better place and have fun at the same time.”

Attendance is free for PBF members, but donations are welcome. Proof of vaccination will be required for attendance at the event.

Those interested are asked to RSVP by email at contact@pasadenabeautiful.org, or by phone at (626) 795-9704.

More information is available online at pasadenabeautiful.org/what-we-do/commercial-design-awards.