News

Huge Turnout, Headlines, & Next Steps: SF RPD’s 2nd Plaza Community Meeting

Discover key highlights from San Francisco Recreation and Park’s July 2025 meeting on the Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park Renovation. Learn about RPD's decision to demolish the Vaillancourt Fountain, cost estimates, and unaddressed alternatives. Access videos, transcripts, advocacy resources, and learn how to take action to preserve San Francisco’s Modern heritage.

Read More
Advocacy and Activism Kevin Souza Advocacy and Activism Kevin Souza

Docomomo US/Northern California Meets with SFRPD & BXP to Call for Thoughtful Preservation of Embarcadero Plaza and Vaillancourt Fountain

On June 16, 2025, board members of Docomomo US/Northern California (NOCA) attended a key stakeholder meeting with staff of the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department (SFRPD) and a representative from BXP to discuss the Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park Renovation Project. The meeting discussed the project’s goals, timeline, and challenges, with a particular focus on the future of the Vaillancourt Fountain and Embarcadero Plaza.

Read More
Advocacy and Activism, Education, Event Kevin Souza Advocacy and Activism, Education, Event Kevin Souza

Plaza Picnic Celebrates Vaillancourt Fountain and Community Spirit

On Friday, May 23, Embarcadero Plaza hosted community members, art enthusiasts, and supporters of modern architecture for a Plaza Picnic, an event organized by Docomomo US/NOCA. The occasion marked a special welcome for the Vaillancourt family, who traveled from Québec and honored the enduring legacy of the Vaillancourt Fountain—a beloved yet endangered landmark in San Francisco. In addition to the Vaillancourt family, Lawrence Halprin's daughter Rana, activist, and Alcatraz occupier Robert Free, SFRPD project manager Eoanna Harrison Goodwin, Supervisor District 1's chief of staff, friends from SF Heritage, and The Cultural Landscape Foundation, as well as artists, skateboarders, and people who shared personal stories of the plaza and fountain over the past 50 years.

Read More

Ruth Asawa Self-Guide Tour Now Available

Experience the artistry of Ruth Asawa beyond the museum with Docomomo US/Northern California’s new self-guided tour. Discover Asawa’s iconic fountains and public sculptures throughout the San Francisco Bay Area using our interactive map. Perfect for art lovers inspired by the SFMOMA retrospective, this tour invites you to walk in Asawa’s footsteps and see the city through her creative vision.

Read More
Education Kevin Souza Education Kevin Souza

Beverley D Thorne Archive Now Available

Explore the newly launched Beverley D Thorne archive on Docomomo Northern California’s website. Discover the life and works of this pioneering ‘Man of Steel,’ including his famous Dave Brubeck House, Case Study House #26, and innovative steel-framed designs. Dive into California Modernism’s rich history through this comprehensive collection.

Read More
News Hannah Lise Simonson News Hannah Lise Simonson

More Modernism Than Ever in 2023: Year in Review

More Modernism than ever in 2023! After a few challenging years during the Covid-19 pandemic and readjusting to new realities, 2023 was possibly our busiest year yet! This year we ran nine walking tours, two building tours, and our annual travel grant program, and presented at the Docomomo National Symposium, advocated for the legacy of Paffard Keatinge-Clay, and just hosted our second annual holiday party!

Read More
News, Education Hannah Lise Simonson News, Education Hannah Lise Simonson

Skate-Modernism

Discover the unexpected intersection of skateboarding and Late Modernist architecture in Theodore Barrow’s reflection on the Docomomo US National Symposium. Explore how skateboarders interact with iconic Modernist spaces, challenging preservation norms and offering new perspectives on architectural history. Barrow examines the paradoxical appeal of these structures and their potential for adaptive reuse in urban environments

Read More