I'm proud to announce I have completed the restoration of the entire exterior envelope of the Moore/Andersson Compound: the Charles Moore House, Andersson House, Cube Loft, Main Studio, Entry Tower, West Studio, and Preservation Shop. That's 39 discreet elevations, 56 windows either restored or replaced—including the monumental Opium Den window; 17 doors revitalized, 3 barn doors completely rebuilt, 41 new foundations and footings added, and major work on drainage, stonework, utilities, insulation. The entire roof has been fortified, waterproofed, and replaced. The courtyard has been completely demolished and rebuilt from the ground up, the 40-column-arbor restored, and the pool basin re-plastered. I have also addressed several structural problems of urgent significance. The post-and-beam parking structure has been carefully disassembled and rebuilt. And let's not forget the magic blue!

This project has taken me 15 years to complete, as I did the lion's share of the work single handed. Only when I was unable handle a task alone did I bring in splendidly skilled tradesmen to lend a hand.

My motive here is not self-aggrandizement, but a wish to convey I have done my best to harness all the generous financial contributions with the care and attention they deserved.

Generosity is what made this work a reality. As Charles Moore loved to say, "Bread cast on the water floats back club sandwiches."

To celebrate, I treated myself to my first kilt, a vintage bespoke one to study the form and fit, as I hope to go to Scotland for the first time next year, and have another specially made in a Chisholm tartan. During breaks from preservation work this past year, I spent time researching my family's ancestors, many of whom inhabited for generations the region southwest of Inverness, a geography of startling beauty that unfolds through Strathglass and Glen Affric. (This kilt's tartan is woven with black, red, green, and blue, which I like to think sums up what it took to complete this little mountain of work: resolve, blood, sweat, and tears!)

These many layers of work have added up to a tougher, tighter, more durable carapace that will protect for decades to come the treasures and wonders and memories within.

For all those who have helped along the way with contributions and muscle and skill and expertise, I stand here in gratitude.

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Thank you.