Building Fund

In 1999, the NWS Board purchased a commercial building in San Pedro, California. Individual members contributed labor and money for repairs. The building was made fit to receive and re-pack artworks, to store the Permanent Art Collection, and to be a meeting place for the Society.

In 2004 and 2005, the Board sought to make the building safe for the general public. An engineer, architect and contractor were hired to complete the seismic retrofit. The dream was always to make this a showplace, a gallery, a lyceum, and a museum.

Fall 2009 update: The Building Committee continues to meet with the architects with a focus on the design for improvement of the front façade of the NWS Building. At our meeting on October 8, we will look at preliminary plans that will be shared with contractors interested in putting forth a bid for the project. When final plans are completed they will be forwarded to the Building Dept. of the City of Los Angeles to secure a permit for the project. We hope to start construction early in the new year.

Summer 2009 Update: NWS members worked hard preparing the building for the Members’ Exhibition. Many thanks to Michael Van Winkle and Ettore Andreani for completing the track lighting. Vinyl floor covering was installed in the Artists’ Workshop area and the Security System was activated. It all came together for the opening of the National Watercolor Society Gallery.

Although we have not received the paper work yet we have been assured that we will be receiving the $25,000 Grant from the San Pedro “Pacific Corridor Program” to help with Phase III of the building. We hope to start construction in September to improve the exterior.

Spring 2009 Update: Work on our building in San Pedro proceeds on schedule. At a cost of $200,000, Phase 2 remodeling of the interior has been completed! A new foyer and office greets you as you enter. The gallery of approximately 2400 square feet has fresh paint. A workshop area of 700 square feet, complete with a small kitchenette is ready.

Many thanks to all our members who donated to the building fund and made this construction possible! And now we start with Phase 3, completing the interior and beginning with the exterior of the building. We will have these improvements completed by May 2009, when we will hold our All Member Exhibition in the new gallery.

April 2008 Update: Plans have been passed and permits granted by the Los Angeles Building Dept. This good news is largely due to the efforts of the architects, Wheeler and Wheeler, Inc. with assistance form NWS member, Douglas Stenhouse.

The NWS Board is reviewing bids from contractors and will make a decision soon. The plans are for the complete renovation of the inside of the building. Currently, we do not have enough money to do all the work, but with your help, we can raise that money while the contractor is still in the building and get the job finished.

Now we ask you, artists and lovers of art, to join us in our quest. With your contribution, this building will be come an art center of which you will be proud.

December 2008 Update: At a cost of $200,000, Phase 2 remodeling of the interior has been completed! A new foyer and office greets you as you enter. The gallery of approximately 2400 square feet has fresh paint. A workshop area of 700 square feet, complete with a small kitchenette is ready. And the new handicapped bathrooms, finished with fashionable stone-look tiles, are sparkling clean. We have a secure area for our permanent collection. Three HVAC units have been installed to keep you warm in winter and cool in summer. Insulation has been applied to the underside of the roof. We have new wiring throughout the building and a new electric panel.

Many thanks to all our members who donated to the building fund and made this construction possible! We have taken a big step forward. And now we start with Phase 3, completing the interior and beginning with the exterior of the building. Our first priorities in Phase 3 for the exterior are a new roof, a new door and painting of the building. And the interior priority is track lighting. We hope to have these improvements completed by May 2009, when we will hold our All Member Exhibition in the new gallery.

Further interior work that needs to be done are floor coverings and installation of equipment for the workshop area. The storage area at the back of the building needs complete remodeling and we hope to raise the roof to the same height as the rest of the building. Finally for the exterior, we need to design and build a new façade for the front of the building to make our NWS Museum and Gallery the showpiece of San Pedro.

So while a lot has been accomplished, much remains to be done. We know that every member wants to be part of this and will help NWS complete the dream. We hope you like our progress to date and will come and visit the building! – Carolyn Van Winkle, Building Director at Large

Building exterior

Building entrance to the NWS building at 915 S. Pacific Avenue, San Pedro, CA. This is how the building originally looked when purchased; and improvements have been made through generous donations.

Building floor plan before renovations.

Building floorplan

Make a Donation

During our final fund-raising push, we are asking you to consider making a tax-deductible donation to the building fund, and join this special group on the Honor Wall. Your gift may be given “In Memoriam” or “In Honor of” someone special. Gifts of large amounts may be given as a pledge and payment arranged. Gifts of significant size will be considered for naming areas of the Museum.

You may join us as a Friend, Patron, Benefactor or join the Golden Palette Circle or the Platinum Palette Circle.

  • Friend: $50 – $299
  • Patron: $300 – $2499 (your name will be entered on the Wall of Honor)
  • Benefactor: $2500 – $4999 (your name will be entered on the Wall of Honor)
  • Golden Palette Circle: $5000 – $9999 (your name will be entered on the Wall of Honor)
  • Platinum Palette Circle: $10,000 and above (your name will be entered on the Wall of Honor and again in the border circling the gallery. You will also have a choice of a painting donated by one of our award-winning NWS artists.)

Please make your check payable to the National Watercolor Society and send to:

Carol Zink, Director of Fundraising
23852 Stillwater Lane
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677