Stockton is steeped in history, and nowhere is this history better reflected than through the architecture of our city’s buildings whose functions through the years mirror the prosperity and struggles that our city has endured. This cycle is reflected in the Belding Building, a stately, five-story brick building constructed in 1916 which for the past several years sat mostly vacant at a prominent Downtown Stockton intersection. But just as the city—and Downtown—has rebounded, so too has the Belding Building, which Ten Space has transformed into a hub of vitality and symbol of the community’s continued resurgence.
It’s with great pride and humility that we at Ten Space are proud to announce that the Belding Building has been selected as the winner of the 2017 San Joaquin Valley Blueprint Award of Excellence in Historic Revitalization. The award is given to projects across the eight-county San Joaquin Valley that demonstrate quality in planning and design while reflecting core smart growth principles. Ten Space was honored for this achievement at the 12th Annual San Joaquin Valley Spring Policy Conference in Fresno on March 10, 2017.
Over the past 12 months, we’ve gone to extraordinary lengths to restore and reinvigorate the Belding Building through a combination of new, modern design elements and the preservation of historical characteristics. Restored hardwood floors, original tile work and light-filled corridors come together with retextured walls, fresh artwork and wood accents to create a truly unique environment available nowhere else in the region.
The results have been unquestionable as the Belding Building has become a center of vibrancy once again in the core of Downtown Stockton. The ground floor features custom build outs for two new, local businesses—Cast Iron Trading Company and Channel Brewing, each owned and operated by individuals passionate about the revival of our city. Additionally, the upper floors were remodeled to house Huddle Cowork, the region’s premiere office space for startups, entrepreneurs and small businesses. Our work on the Belding Building is a testament to our commitment to the revitalization of our city’s core.
The Blueprint Awards are presented by The Community and Regional Planning Center at Fresno State University and American Planning Association – California, Central Section. Ten Space has also won a Blueprint Award in 2015 for the renovation of the Newberry Building, which sits on the opposite side of the same block as the Belding Building.
