Elks Club Balcony

Designed by architects Frederick H. Meyer and Albin R. Johnson, the Elks Lodge #3 was completed in 1924. The terra cotta clad Spanish-Gothic style building contained a swimming pool, ballroom, pool hall, and multiple floors of rooms for visiting Elks and unmarried male members. Due to the eventual deterioration of the original terra cotta balustrade, the decorative portions of the third floor balcony were removed and replaced with a visually incompatible aluminum railing.

With the purpose of returning the façade of the Elks Lodge to the original intended appearance, ARG/CS acting as the design/ build contractor, reconstructed the balcony. Using the original architectural drawings and historic photographs, the decorative terra cotta balustrade was re-cast to match the existing in color and texture at the Gladding-McBean terra cotta manufacturing plant in Lincoln, California. Prior to the reinstallation of the terra cotta balustrade, structural repairs and modifications were performed to the steel and concrete balcony. Completed in early 2013, the reintroduction of the balcony integrated the Elks building façade and contributed to the historic integrity of the Union Square Shopping District.