The Peralta House, an 1870 Italianate Victorian house, sits on the original hacienda site of the 1820 Peralta land grant. The building, which has been described as the “heart and soul of Oakland,” is a city and state landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The research and design team undertook a dramatic restoration of the historic house. The original interiors were replicated based on historical sources. Missing exterior features were fabricated. To prepare for its use as a museum and cultural center, the house was upgraded to meet California building codes and to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The structure was also stiffened to better withstand seismic activity.