David Gebhard Centennial Celebrations Symposium

Day 3

The centerpiece of the centennial program will be a three-day symposium, held January 22–24, 2027, at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Lotusland. Bringing together leading scholars, architects, preservationists, and practitioners, the symposium will explore the enduring significance of Gebhard’s scholarship and his influence on how we understand architecture, landscape, and cultural heritage. The program will examine the many dimensions of Gebhard’s career—from his pioneering studies of California architecture and influential guidebooks, co-authored with Robert Winter, to his advocacy for historic preservation and his role in establishing and growing the Architecture and Design Collection at UC Santa Barbara. The symposium is free and open to everyone but access will require reservation. RSVPs will open soon. Please check back for updates.

On Sunday, January 24, the symposium will move to Lotusland in Montecito, where Milford Wayne Donaldson, FAIA, will deliver the keynote lecture for a panel devoted to Gebhard as a preservationist. Pam Post will moderate the discussion. The program will conclude with a tour of Lotusland. More on the event details below.

PROGRAM

9:30 AM Doors open, check-in. Coffee and pastries.

10:15 Introduction to Panel 4

10:20-11:30 Panel 4 – Gebhard as a Preservationist
Keynote lecture by Milford Wayne Donaldson, including Q&A
Moderator – Pam Post

11:30 Tour of the property

12:30 Symposium ends

For More Information on the David Gebhard Centennial:

The David Gebhard Book to be Launched: find it on the Catalogs tab here.

With the generous sponsorship of: