PASADENA, CA—The City of Pasadena honored the Church of Scientology of Pasadena May 18 with a 2011 Historic Preservation Award. At the awards ceremony, held as part of the city’s observance of National Historic Preservation Month, Assemblyman Anthony J. Portantino also presented the Church with a Certificate of Recognition on behalf of the California State Assembly.

The Church, which was dedicated and opened its doors in the heart of Old Pasadena on July 19, 2010, was acknowledged for “preserving the rich architectural history of Pasadena” in the rehabilitation of the four-story, 58,000-square-foot structure originally constructed in 1906. Attention to detail included the refurbishing of the building’s Beaux Arts exterior and skylighted galleria and extended to the Church’s Arts & Crafts-style furnishings and stained-glass windows.

The renovation also addressed environmental issues and the new Church meets LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification standards for environment-friendly building materials, energy equipment, lighting systems and reduced water consumption.

Eden Stein, President of the Church of Scientology of Pasadena, accepted the award and Certificate of Recognition on behalf of the more than 1,500 Scientology parishioners who contributed to the purchase and renovation of the new Church.

“We are honored to be recognized with this Historic Preservation Award,” said Stein. “Acquiring and restoring the building was a labor of love. Our new use for this legacy property makes it possible for us to bring our social betterment and humanitarian programs to the community, working in close cooperation with other community and civic groups to address important issues in Pasadena, and to better serve our parishioners.”

The Scientology religion was founded by author and philosopher L. Ron Hubbard. The first Church of Scientology was formed in Los Angeles in 1954 and the religion has expanded to more than 9,000 Churches, Missions and affiliated groups, with millions of members in 165 countries.