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BURNT.....THEN RENEWED
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Early on the morning of March 8th , 2013..an electrical fire from a junction box under the front porch burned off the front of Chez Panisse and caused devastating smoke damage. I found Alice at the damage surrounded by cameras, crying. So I went up beside her, put my arm around her and asked her if she had called Kip yet. She said yes!
Kip Mesirow now lives in Vermont but 35 years ago was a close confidant of Alice and had designed and built Chez Pannise. I picked Kip up from the airport that night. We put a call out to all the original hippie wood workers and joiners that were still around…then Kip and I locked ourselves in a room at Chez Panisse and spent the next 10 days designing the new “Face of Chez Panisse”.
I also contacted Shizue Seo, Architect and Eugene Tuan, Engineer and went to the City of Berkeley planning/building dept to apply for a very speedy permit. The extensive fire damage was immediately deconstructed and we managed to salvage all the redwood, windows or copper that we could.
The rebuilding of Chez Panisse presented me with a daunting work and costing schedule. It had to be done in rocket speed and it was going to be expensive to create a new face of the building with a completely new design and with all salvaged redwood beams, siding and trim. Plus the new engineering included a massive steel moment frame, strong walls and a very complex foundation.
The rebuilding of Chez Panisse presented me with a daunting work and costing schedule. It had to be done in rocket speed and it was going to be expensive to create a new face of the building with a completely new design and with all salvaged redwood beams, siding and trim. Plus the new engineering included a massive steel moment frame, strong walls and a very complex foundation.
Kip had to return to Vermont. He passed the mantle on to me and the full responsibility for completing the rebuild…in less than 3 months. Time was the most important thing for Alice, the insurance people and everyone else who loves this iconic place.
I have never in my career faced such an emotionally packed schedule. Even after the terrible fire in Tassajara Zen Monastery there seemed to be a little extra time in that rebuild. At Chez Panisse every moment had to be scheduled, planned and executed exactly on time.
We replaced the old foundation with a massive concrete form. We then constructed a two ton steel moment frame with the new shape of the face of Chez and we had to close Shattuck Ave to transport and crane it into place. That work went perfectly and then the new rough framing and fireproofing and shear walls began. The new stained glass windows were designed and built with the essential help of Alice. We had to order all new copper lighting to be fabricated by Kip in Vermont. The new gabled roof had to be fabricated milled and jointed off site. We hired a specialist Shingler to install the outside splayed shingle skirt. Japanese joiners were brought in to start the finish work and install beamwork in the shintu style gabled roof.
I have never in my career faced such an emotionally packed schedule. Even after the terrible fire in Tassajara Zen Monastery there seemed to be a little extra time in that rebuild. At Chez Panisse every moment had to be scheduled, planned and executed exactly on time.
We replaced the old foundation with a massive concrete form. We then constructed a two ton steel moment frame with the new shape of the face of Chez and we had to close Shattuck Ave to transport and crane it into place. That work went perfectly and then the new rough framing and fireproofing and shear walls began. The new stained glass windows were designed and built with the essential help of Alice. We had to order all new copper lighting to be fabricated by Kip in Vermont. The new gabled roof had to be fabricated milled and jointed off site. We hired a specialist Shingler to install the outside splayed shingle skirt. Japanese joiners were brought in to start the finish work and install beamwork in the shintu style gabled roof.
Every phase of work had to be inspected by the City of Berkeley, signed off by the Engineer and okayed by the Fire Marshall. About 3 weeks before the agreed upon opening date, Alice, the managers and the insurance people sat me down and asked, “Can you promise us that you can get the work done by June 21st?” I said Yes. I felt confident …until I got home and saw myself on all the local TV and radio stations saying I would get it done on time.
The next 3 weeks are still a dream to me. We had day and night time shifts with crews working with amazing details and in sequence. It was a miracle but we were oiling and polishing up to the very hour of opening that Friday night.
The next 3 weeks are still a dream to me. We had day and night time shifts with crews working with amazing details and in sequence. It was a miracle but we were oiling and polishing up to the very hour of opening that Friday night.
It was the summer solstice, the new moon and a magic moment for all of us. And so very rewarding to see Alice in her glory meeting the eager public and bringing them in to her renewed restaurant.
