Pacific Biological Laboratories

ARG Conservation Services was contracted to stabilize and selectively reconstruct broken elements of the specimen tanks located in the rear of Ed Rickett’s Lab at 800 Cannery Row, Monterey, California. Built in 1937, the property, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is the former laboratory and residence of Edward Ricketts, an innovative marine biologist and a prominent figure in the local arts scene.

Treatment goals were to stabilize the holding tanks and to provide sufficient reconstruction, to allow a holistic visual interpretation of the tanks and to retain its aesthetic historic character. Existing broken pieces of the cell walls ere re-used in reconstructing the cell walls whenever their original location could be identified. A full restoration of the surface and parge coat “to look like new” was avoided; however, cracks and gaps were filled to help keep water from penetrating into the historic fabric.