Cioffi, Wallace receive Gold Nugget Award

Architect James Cioffi and contractor Thomas M. Wallace, both of Palm Springs, were honored at the 38th annual Gold Nugget Awards ceremony held last week at the Pacific Coast Builders Conference In San Francisco.

The pair received a coveted Gold Nugget Merit Award for their renovation of the

Jones-Rohrer Movie Colony home owned by another longtime resident, Casey Jones. Jones, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Cecil Jones, who recently retired from medical practice, grew up in Palm Springs. The Jones-Rohrer home was one of six finalists in the "Best Renovated, Restored Single House or Project" awards category. The project is a one-acre, mid-century modem tennis estate, formerly owned by Carol Heiss, Olympic Figure Skating gold medallist.

The project began as a complete renovation of a 1960's era home to include a state of the art kitchen, screening/media room, guest suites, and new office space. Adding an outdoor living room, kitchen, and modem spa integrated the indoor and outdoor living and recreation spaces. Cioffi and Wallace transformed an asphalt entry (complete with parking stall stripes) into an elegant motor court with two double garages.

An existing decorative block screen running along the front of the estate was restored and sandblasted, creating a filtered-light atrium for exotic plants to be viewed through the glass wall of the living room. Night lighting of the screen further enhanced the space. Builders restored the 1960's sliding door hardware and refitted the new -doors. Existing terrazzo floors, indoors and out, -and walk-in terrazzo showers also were restored, creating an eclectic blend of elements.

Gold Nugget stands as the oldest and most prestigious design award in the United States. For the past 38 years the Gold Nugget competition has honored creative achievement in architectural design and land use planning for residential, commercial and industrial projects. Entries are invited from the 14 Western states and countries with borders on the Pacific Ocean. Sponsor of the Gold Nuggets is the Western Building Show, the nation's largest regional industry trade show and new products exhibition, now in its 43rd year, Finalists include projects located in Canada, Indonesia, Japan, and Thailand, as well as from the Western United States.

James Cioffi Architect was established in 1978. Recent work includes the Palm Springs Train Station, Airport taxi building and the restoration of Albert Frey's Villa Hermosa apartments. Cioffi's work has received numerous design awards and been published in several magazines.

Thomas M. Wallace is known for high quality renovation and remodeling projects ranging from Early California Spanish to MidCentury Modem styles. In business in the desert area for the last 26 years, Wallace specializes in new luxury construction and estate renovation. Wallace has managed numerous projects in the famed Las Palmas and Movie Colony neighborhoods of Palm Springs.

Wright Design is known for unique integration of all aspects of the interior and exterior design to achieve a sensitive connection with architecture and environment. Wright Design's award winning style has been selected by clients in Palm Springs, Newport, Laguna Beach, San Francisco, New York and Paris.