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ARG Conservation Services

Name: ARG Conservation Services
Address: San Francisco, CA, 94111, US
Telephone: +14158281451

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ARG Conservation Services

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ARG Conservation Services is a design–build firm specializing in the conservation and management of cultural resources.

We undertake conservation of historic buildings and architectural features, monuments, collections in historic contexts, and large-scale works of art. Principals and staff are nationally recognized leaders in architectural and materials conservation, representing decades of continuous experience planning and executing projects in culturally significant settings.

10/16/2026

Major changes are underway in 📍SF’s Chinatown, and ARG/CS is so excited to support the community’s evolution and growth! 🌿🐉

Designed by artist Patti Bowler and fabricated by metal worker Wade Lux, “Dragon Relief” was installed above the Broadway Tunnel in 1970. This piece is one of the first public artworks to result from the city’s 1969 Art Enrichment Ordinance, which required every civic construction project to dedicate 2% of its budget to public art.

In 2023, after listening to community feedback, the decision was made to remove Bowler’s “Dragon” in advance of a major renovation to the Chinatown Public Health Center. Last month, the ARG/CS team mobilized to assess, label, and document the artwork before careful deinstallation and storage. Bronze and brass elements spanning 56 feet across were disassembled piece by piece using a small crane, and transported to an offsite storage facility, where they await reinstallation at a different area of the city. Our crew even found a special surprise welded into the metal! ♥️

Thank you to San Francisco Arts Commission, Atthowe Fine Art Services, and Pacific Masonry Restorations for a successful collaboration!

10/09/2026

Did you know❓❤️‍🔥 The Phoenix, a mythical bird reborn from its own ashes, is featured on the seal of the city of San Francisco—a city that has survived many great fires and rebuilt every time. 🐦‍🔥

Today is Fire Prevention Day, and we’re highlighting a project at one of the many firehouses keeping San Francisco safe.🧯🧑‍🚒

Located outside San Francisco Fire Station #34, artist Lena Anders Barth’s vibrantly colored “Phoenix” sculpture stands proudly, holding an axe and fire hose in its claws, fighting a blaze of burning California poppies below. In the background of the piece, bricks inscribed with the words “ashes” and “life” reflect themes of rebirth.

This spring, ARG/CS partnered with San Francisco Arts Commission to conduct maintenance treatments on Anders Barth’s work, which is one of many public art pieces located at fire stations across the city. The statue was cleaned with warm pressurized water, and deteriorated mortar joints were removed and repointed. Some of the Phoenix’s feathers had been chipped or were discolored from previous repairs, and these areas were corrected with color-matched paints and careful brushstrokes. Corrosion on the statue’s bronze plaque was treated with a hot wax application, and graffiti marks were removed with a mild paint st****er.

Across the city, Station #34 is one of the 44 fire stations that stand watch and defend the people of San Francisco from a sudden blaze –and prevention is always the best way to look out for one another! For more information and resources on fire safety, check out the SAN FRANCISCO FIRE DEPARTMENT website, or follow their Instagram account. Have a safe weekend! 🫶

10/02/2026

October is Careers in Construction Month, and we’re celebrating the many opportunities in the field to invest in your future, grow your skills, and build your community. 🏗️🌆🚧 Last month, ARG/CS employees got to participate in Western Chapter - Association for Preservation Technology’s tour of the historic Gladding McBean factory and learn about the terra cotta manufacturing process from a company that’s been in the building game for more than 150 years. 🏅

Founded in 1875, Gladding, McBean is the oldest continuously operating architectural terra cotta manufacturer in the U.S. From its factory in Lincoln, CA, the company has supplied clay roof tile for Stanford University and terra cotta for many buildings in downtown San Francisco. While the company has innovated and embraced new technology since 1875, the focus on traditional craft and quality has stayed the same.

Our team members Erik and Maria visited the historic kilns and workspaces, got an overview of operations, and met the artisans fabricating ornate terra cotta elements that are used in buildings across the country! Careers in the traditional building trades are in demand, and bringing in new workers is an essential part of passing on time-honored knowledge.

If you’re curious about what career opportunities exist for you in the construction industry, check out Build California for more info! 👷‍♀️ Thanks to Western Chapter - Association for Preservation Technology and Gladding McBean for the opportunity to learn more about the industry, and the labor that goes into the buildings around us!

09/25/2026

📣Testing, testing… We’re exploring ways to balance maximum treatment efficiency with minimal environmental impact 🌿💪

Last fall, ARG/CS partnered with Architectural Resources Group and East Bay Regional Parks to develop graffiti removal processes for historic stonework at Alvarado Park. The goal of the work was to test the effectiveness of different graffiti removal methods in selected areas of the park, and to use the results to guide future removals to be completed by EBRPD staff.

Alvarado Park was opened to the public in 1923, and added to the National Register in 1992. During the Great Depression, the park was the site of numerous WPA-funded landscaping projects, including stone retaining walls, light posts, and entrance pillars built in the iconic park rustic style. Three test sites were selected in different areas to evaluate methods for various conditions and types of stone.

The removal methods we evaluated ranged in intensity from pressurized water cleaning, to graffiti removal wipes, to heavy duty paint st****ers. All tested materials met standards for low-VOC and eco-friendly products, and when working next to Wildcat Creek, water containment measures were set up to prevent product runoff into the surrounding ecosystem.

Conservators also evaluated the efficiency of covering graffiti with new paint layers color-matched (Cathedral Stone Products, Inc.) to the mortar and stone substrate. While more labor-intensive, inpainting proved a viable treatment option for delicate areas with complex preservation and/or environmental concerns.

The final step was applying a reversible and plant-based anti-graffiti coating to protect stonework areas and prevent future layers of paint application. Now, with a methodology established, parks employees will be able to handle new graffiti as it appears, with minimal impact on the natural environment. Have a great weekend, and happy trails! 😉🌳

09/18/2026

Happy National Tradesman Day!👷‍♀️🧑‍🔧🛠️ This week, we’re highlighting the work that our talented and hardworking crew completed on a project in Half Moon Bay. 🌓

In the city of Half Moon Bay, the unassuming bridge that runs over Pilarcitos Creek is the site of significant engineering history. This bridge is not only the first concrete bridge in San Mateo County, but also the second oldest surviving steel-reinforced concrete arch bridge in California. Built in 1900, it was reinforced with retired cables from San Francisco’s California Street cable car line, at a time when steel-reinforced concrete was still a pioneering construction method. 🚎

Earlier this year, our team was brought in to conduct some much-needed structural maintenance on the partition walls that separate the pedestrian walkway from the road. Repairs to the significant cracks in the stucco started with a deep clean of the walls and removal of failing materials.

One of the original steel reinforcement cables was discovered inside a deep crack, and our treatment plan was amended to preserve this historically significant material. The cable was encased in epoxy, and 37 stainless steel pins were inserted throughout the walls to add structural stability. Our team custom-mixed mortar to fill the cracks, and applied new coats of fresh paint to the entire structure, taking special care to preserve the colors, materials, and character of the historic bridge. The bronze dedication plaque was cleaned and hot-waxed, and the mosaics were also restored.

Thank you so much to our crew for their dedication to craft! Your hard work and excellence are an integral part of caring for the art, architecture, and stories all around us. 🌟

09/11/2026

Happy September, and cheers to all our Virgos! ♍ Last week, we gathered at the office to share a few slices of cake with the ARG/CS team members celebrating their birthdays this Virgo season. 🥳🎂👑

People born under this sign are said to be detail-oriented, perceptive, hard-working and compassionate problem-solvers. The Virgos on our team contribute to so many aspects of the work we do— jobsite operations, project management, art and architectural conservation, client relations, admin work— and we’re so glad to have their unique and special energy in the mix!

Tag your favorite Virgo to show them some birthday love!🎈

09/04/2026

Created with a vision of American progress, depicting everyday life during a pivotal time in our history, and maintained with hard work and care. 🌿💪 From past to present, labor is the thread running through the Coit Tower murals, and this Labor Day, we celebrate the rights and contributions of American workers.

The year after Coit Tower’s construction in 1933, the 27 iconic interior murals were completed by 26 artists, many affiliated with the California School of Fine Arts. Sponsored by the Works Progress Administration, these artists were paid between $25 and $45 a week to paint scenes of Californian life during the 1930s. These rich frescoes explore themes of urbanism, agriculture, capitalism, class, industry, and community during the Great Depression.

In May 2020, ARG/CS partnered with conservators Anne Rosenthal and Kiernan Graves, and San Francisco Arts Commission to complete maintenance work on the murals. This process included detailed assessments and treatment plans to guide our careful conservation efforts. To keep these frescoes intact and vibrant, conservators corrected a range of conditions, including color loss, staining, scratches, damaged paint, efflorescence, and soiling.

The ARG/CS team is made up of talented professionals of different trades, trainings, and backgrounds, who come together to do excellent work for the benefit of our communities. Architecture and public art are such an important part of what we do, and we’re proud to honor and uplift the achievements of our team and workers everywhere. Happy Labor Day!

📍Coit Tower San Francisco San Francisco Recreation & Parks

08/21/2026

What’s your favorite color in a sunset? This sculpture has almost all of them. 🌇

💙 This past January, the San Francisco Arts Commission contracted the ARG/CS team to complete conservation maintenance treatments on Rolling Reflection by artist Sanaz Mazinani. The artwork is composed of 20 cast stainless steel forms that reference sunlight moving across San Francisco’s dramatic topography and the Pacific at different times of day. The richly hued sculptural forms are brought to life with colorful automotive paint finishes and mimic the pastel colors of sunrise, bold afternoon light moving through water and over cliffs, and the warm hues of a coastal sunset. Each form also has a flat mirrored edge, reflecting visitors, each other, and the light around them. 🩷

💛 When examined onsite, the sculptures displayed overall soiling, drip stains on mirrored surfaces, abrasions, tire marks from bikes and skateboards, and chipped paint leading to some areas of corrosion. The sculptures were initially cleaned with water and gentle detergents. Mirrored surfaces were chemically passivated to enhance resistance to corrosion. Also, areas with paint loss were lightly sanded and primedfor paint application. 💜

🩵 One sculpture had a significant scratch disrupting the finish of the mirrored side, and tests were conducted to establish appropriate methodologies for its treatment. After testing different treatment approaches, conservators implemented the final method: progressively finer sandpaper grits on the scratched area, finished off by buffing the metal with a high-speed rotary tool, successfully restoring the artist’s original mirror finish. 🪞🧡

Thank you to the San Francisco Arts Commission for bringing us onto this project! Rolling Reflection stands outside 49 South Van Ness Avenue, in a corridor between buildings for the public to enjoy. We can confirm, it’s beautiful at any time of day.

06/17/2026

🌉 Recently, the ARG/CS team got to participate in an evening celebrating history and transformation with San Francisco Heritage, on the grounds of San Francisco’s iconic Presidio of San Francisco.

The theme of SF Heritage’s 2026 Gala was “Post to Park”, which focused on the 21st-century evolution of the Presidio from a military stronghold to a vibrant national park within reach of the busy city center. The evening began with networking and conversation at the VIP reception, with delicious food and drinks provided by indigenous restaurant Crystal Wahpepah. Guests then moved into the auditorium of the historic Presidio Theatre, which was built in 1939 with WPA funding, and carefully restored and opened to the public in 2019.

Inside, attendees got to experience a presentation in the Page Memorial Lecture Series about the history of the Presidio and the work SF Heritage has accomplished there, including tribal and community outreach. The presentation celebrated the ongoing preservation and adaptive reuse efforts, and models for the stewardship of unceded Ramaytush Ohlone land, all happening in partnership with the American Indian Cultural District and The Presidio Trust.

At the end of the presentation, guests were surprised with a short music and dance performance.
Thank you so much to San Francisco Heritage and their partner organizations for putting together a night of celebration and community! 🌟

06/05/2026

🕯️ On the campus of is a statue of a saint who embraced poverty, charity, animals, and the environment. On this Gun Violence Awareness Day, we’re taking time to reflect on peace and safety, through Beniamino Bufano’s “St. Francis of the Guns.”

Bufano’s sculpture, composed of steel, bronze, and ceramic tile on concrete, is a nearly 9-foot-tall metal sculpture of Saint Francis of Assisi, with his arms spread in peaceful greeting. On the lower torso, a mosaic depicts four assassinated American leaders (John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Abraham Lincoln) above a children’s choir. The sculpture was dedicated by Mayor George Moscone, who was himself assassinated 18 months afterwards. Allegedly, Bufano created the sculpture from 2000 handguns obtained by San Francisco’s Mayor Joseph Alioto’s voluntary gun turn-in program in 1968, blending bronze with steel to protect the metal from corroding in the city’s foggy weather.

ARG/CS was contracted by to perform treatments to address general soiling, staining, and corrosion of the bronze due to weathering, bird guano, and deteriorated mortar joints in the tile mosaic. The entire statue was cleaned with detergents. Pigmented and clear hot wax treatments were applied to the metal to integrate the statue’s natural patina, and to protect the surface and make it shine. The colorful tile mosaic was regrouted, cracks in the concrete base were filled, and the entire base was repainted. As a final step, an anti-graffiti coating was applied to the entire structure.

This statue stands as a memorial to our lost leaders, and as a reminder of both the artist’s and St. Francis’s message to embrace one another, and to spread peace and healing.

Resources for victims and survivors of gun violence are available on the Support Fund website.

Address

San Francisco, CA
94111

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

+14158281451

Website

http://www.argcs.com/

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