Each year, the Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Awards celebrate the people, places and partnerships that preserve and protect the places that matter across our Commonwealth. From remarkable individual achievements to once-endangered buildings given new life, these awards shine a light on inspiring preservation success stories. We are proud to introduce this year’s recipients.

2025 Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Awardees

Honor Awards

F. Otto Haas Award

This award honors outstanding achievements in the field of historic preservation over an extended period.

August R. Carlino (Allegheny County)

For more than three decades, August “Augie” Carlino led Rivers of Steel as a visionary force for industrial preservation, economic revitalization, and creative placemaking in southwestern Pennsylvania. His leadership turned the once-threatened Carrie Blast Furnaces into a National Historic Landmark and cultural hub, expanded the region’s heritage tourism economy, and redefined how industrial sites can be both preserved and reimagined. Carlino’s career is a testament to passionate, persistent and practical preservation.

Henry A. Jordan Award

In keeping with Henry’s belief that it is at the local level where real historic preservation occurs, the Henry A. Jordan Award recognizes outstanding historic preservation efforts at the local level.

Susquehanna National Heritage Area (York County)

A decade-long effort to save the Mifflin House – an Underground Railroad site in Hellam Township – culminated in a powerful vision for public education and community engagement. Now the future home of the Susquehanna Discovery Center & Heritage Park, the site will interpret stories of freedom seekers, Civil War battles, and regional river culture. The project has already secured over $8 million in funding and will open to the public in 2025.

Chairman’s Award

Selected by the Chair of Preservation Pennsylvania for outstanding work.

Capitol Preservation Committee (Dauphin County)

The restoration of the Governor’s Private Suite in the State Capitol returned one of Harrisburg’s most exquisite and long-neglected interiors to its original 1906 splendor. Completed during COVID-era shutdowns, the nine-month project involved the full stripping, repair and refinishing of carved oak paneling, restoration of period lighting, and meticulous renewal of parquet flooring – making this one of the most detailed and successful restorations ever undertaken in the Capitol.

Special Focus Award

Ralph Modjeski Award for Transportation Design, Preservation or Archaeology

Charleston Street Connector (Tioga County)

Tioga County gave new life to Pennsylvania’s last-surviving wrought-iron Warren pony truss bridge, originally built in 1879. Through careful relocation and rehabilitation, the bridge now serves as a pedestrian link between downtown Wellsboro and the Pine Creek Rail Trail. Thoughtful design, historic sensitivity, and expert coordination created a vibrant new use for a treasured piece of engineering heritage.

Construction Awards

Restoration

Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Adams County)

A landmark of American Catholic history, the Basilica underwent an extraordinary restoration to uncover and conserve its 19th-century Baroque interior, including the largest historic paint exposure the conservation team had ever encountered. The work restored original decorative painting, fine art, woodwork, marble altars, and illusionistic artistry – reviving the sacred space’s spiritual and artistic power.

USS Olympia (Philadelphia County)

The last-surviving ship from the Spanish-American War, the USS Olympia is a floating icon of naval history. The restoration of its pilothouse involved meticulous wood repair, traditional marine varnishing, and expert window conservation – all conducted in the challenging conditions of winter aboard a moored vessel. The project ensures that this national treasure remains accessible and inspiring for future generations.

Rehabilitation

Forum Building (Dauphin County)

The historic Forum Building in the Capitol Complex was fully restored and modernized to welcome over 700 Department of Education employees back to their original home. Original materials were carefully preserved – windows, marble, bronze and woodwork – while the space was redesigned for flexible, post-pandemic work environments. The result is a blend of historic integrity and forward-looking design.

Pennsylvania State Library (Dauphin County)

The five-year restoration of the State Library brought this 93-year-old resource back to life. With original finishes cleaned and revived, historic shelving restored, and architectural details renewed, the building now provides a welcoming, functional space for readers and researchers, proving that preservation and public service go hand in hand.

Lansdowne Theater (Delaware County)

After decades of vacancy, the Lansdowne Theater has been reborn as a concert venue through a $20 million rehabilitation. Every detail – from Art Deco lighting to painted plasterwork – was restored or recreated with care. This community-led effort balances preservation and economic viability, proving the power of grassroots determination.

Rose Rent Lofts (Franklin County)

This adaptive reuse of a 1909 high school in Chambersburg created affordable loft housing while preserving the building’s architectural character. The project honored community memory and inspired emotional reconnection – former students toured their old classrooms, now transformed but still familiar. The name, drawn from a local tradition of symbolic rent paid with a single rose, evokes dignity, legacy and care.

1782/1834 Grist Miller’s House (Northampton County)

Part of the Moravian settlement in Bethlehem and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the long-neglected Miller’s House has been beautifully restored to become the Ralph G. Schwarz Interpretation Center. It now offers hands-on learning about colonial industries, honoring both the site's deep history and one of its most passionate preservation champions.

A Man Full of Trouble Tavern (Philadelphia County)

Philadelphia’s only surviving pre-Revolutionary tavern reopened after a meticulous restoration that preserved its colonial ambiance while adding a small museum. Serving local ale and featuring rare historic artifacts, the tavern now offers an immersive experience that blends hospitality with heritage in the heart of Society Hill.

Leadership Awards

Adaptability/Sustainability

Academy of Music Balcony Restoration (Philadelphia County)
This project restored two 19th-century balconies on Philadelphia’s iconic Academy of Music using innovative techniques and materials. New brackets and balustrades were designed to match the originals while addressing structural and safety concerns. The solution – a creative use of glass fiber reinforced concrete – ensures these historic architectural features will endure for the next century and beyond. We applaud the thoughtful, ongoing commitment to the care of this National Historic Landmark. Over the years, they have consistently undertaken impressive and meaningful preservation projects.

Education

Empowering Communities to Preserve Historic Resources in the South Mountain Region (Cumberland County)
A collaborative effort led by Shippensburg University, this initiative engaged hundreds of residents, created hands-on workshops, and produced a 92-page digital preservation guide. It’s a replicable model for building local capacity and preserving places that matter, especially in fast-growing regions facing development pressure.

Grassroots Advocacy

Battles Sunflower Farm – Hagen History Center (Erie County)
In Girard, the Hagen History Center has reactivated a 120-acre historic farmstead by planting 1.2 million sunflowers. In partnership with a local distillery, the seeds will be transformed into a unique sunflower-based spirit. This joyful blend of agritourism, heritage education, and community celebration breathes new life into the land – and the legacy of the Battles family.

Local Government

Upper Chichester Township (Delaware County)
Upper Chichester Township is recognized for its updated Historic Sites Survey – the first since 1983 – which provides critical guidance for preservation planning as the community grows. Completed in partnership with the Chichester Historical Society, the Delaware County Planning Department, and Seidel Planning & Design, the survey maps historic buildings (existing and lost), outlines neighborhood designations and zoning, and recommends tools like demolition regulations and preservation incentives. Officially adopted in 2024, the survey is now a key planning resource and a model for communities balancing growth with heritage.

Public Impact

YouthBuild Philadelphia (Philadelphia County)
YouthBuild Philadelphia transformed a long-vacant 1930 PECO building into a dynamic 34,000-square-foot academic and workforce training facility. The adaptive reuse preserved the building’s striking stone façade and historic bronze storefront, while introducing 12 classrooms, program-specific training spaces, and a rooftop terrace for outdoor learning. Designed to reflect the organization’s belief in student potential, this vibrant facility serves as both an architectural revival and a vital resource for young people reclaiming their educational and career paths. The project exemplifies how historic buildings can be reimagined to serve inclusive, community-driven missions.

Thank you to all our nominees, awardees, supporters and sponsors who make this work possible. Together, we preserve not only buildings and landscapes, but the stories and identities that shape our communities.

We look forward to honoring these projects and people on October 16 – and we hope you’ll join us.