John Canning & Co. Receives the 2025 Traditional Building Palladio Award for Craftsmanship of First Church of Christ, Woodbridge
Traditional Building honors our plaster and decorative paint work at The First Church of Christ with the 2025 Palladio Award for Craftsmanship
Cheshire, CT – June 2025– John Canning & Co. is thrilled to announce Traditional Building has awarded us with a 2025 Palladio Award for the exemplary restoration of interior finishes at the historic First Church of Christ in Woodbridge, Connecticut. Celebrating our work in traditional design by enhancing the beauty of a built environment.
Built in 1832, the First Church of Christ, a landmark of Greek Revival architecture, had suffered significant deterioration, including structural damage and the obscuring of its original trompe-l'œil decoration. John Canning & Co. embarked on a multi-year, multi-phase restoration project, beginning with a detailed plaster survey in 2019, to address these critical issues and revitalize the church's interior.
"This award is a testament to our team's unwavering commitment to preserving the First Church of Christ’s historical integrity and artistic legacy," said David Riccio, President at John Canning & Co. "We are deeply honored to have played a role in restoring this cherished community landmark."
The restoration project required extensive research, a historical paint analysis, and advanced technical execution. Key achievements include:
- Plaster Consolidation and Stabilization: Ensuring the structural integrity of the church's interior, preventing further deterioration.
- Historical Paint Investigation and Color Scheme Development: Uncovering and recreating the 1891 decorative program, honoring the church's historical aesthetic.
- Trompe-l'œil Restoration: Reviving the illusionistic painting techniques, including painted panels, moldings, and scrolling leaves on the ceiling, with enhanced realism through advanced light analysis.
- Comprehensive Restoration of Ceiling, North Wall, and Sanctuary Walls: Bringing a renewed sense of sophisticated elegance to the church’s neoclassical interior.
"Our goal was to not only restore the church’s physical beauty but also to reconnect it with its rich history," stated David Riccio, President. The completed restoration brings a renewed sense of sophisticated elegance to the church's neoclassical interior. Ultimately, the meticulous craftsmanship helped restore the church to a state of repose, mixing the past and present where every design element preserved memory and continued its legacy for future generations.
We extend our gratitude to Traditional Building for this honor, and we are delighted to sponsor and celebrate the 2025 Palladio Awards at the Traditional Building Conference on June 10th in Williamsburg, VA.
The Palladio Awards, established in 2002, is run by the national publication, Traditional Building, which recognizes both individual designers and design teams whose work enhances the beauty and humane qualities of the built environment. John Canning & Co.’s recognition underscores its leadership in the preservation field and commitment to inspiring future restoration projects throughout New England and beyond.
With nearly 50 years of expertise, John Canning & Co. is a nationally recognized leader in historic restoration, conservation, and preservation. The firm specializes in ornamental plaster restoration, plaster stabilization, decorative finishes, gilding, historic woodwork, and stonework, with a dedication to "Perfecting Preservation."
About John Canning & Co.
John Canning & Co. is a national leader in historic preservation, conservation, and restoration. With a legacy spanning nearly five decades, the firm specializes in architectural gilding, decorative finishes, ornamental plaster restoration, historic stonework, and woodwork conservation. Their commitment to craftsmanship and traditional techniques ensures the preservation of historic landmarks for future generations.
