Institute of Classical Architecture & Art

From San Francisco’s majestic Palace of Fine Arts to the stately Julia Morgan–designed Berkeley City Club, the Bay Area is rich in classical architecture. “The artistic grace of these buildings lends a special dignity to the region’s cityscapes,” says Nancy O’Connor, who directs the Northern California Chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA). The organization’s primary mission is education, offering students of all ages access to programs that champion classical design’s enduring excellence and appeal. O’Connor says, “Literacy in classical design allows us to read our urban context by providing a well-ordered, intuitive language we can visually understand.”