Awards

CELEBRATE EXCELLENCE

 

Celebrating Preservation Excellence

Each year, since 1979, Preservation Pennsylvania has presented the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Awards. These awards honor exceptional preservation work taking place across the commonwealth. There are three major categories for award recognition: the Honor Awards, Leadership Awards, and Construction Awards.

Visit our NEWS post for details on the 2023 Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Awards, held October 19 at the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg. You'll find links to the event photo album, the digital pdf with the story of each award project, and our list of wonderful sponsors! Click here.


HONOR AWARDS

F. OTTO HAAS AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Jeff Kidder (Erie County)
Haas Award Sponsor: Tom Hagen

HENRY A. JORDAN AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING HISTORIC PRESERVATION EFFORTS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL
David Morrison (Dauphin County)
Jordan Award Sponsor: Mrs. Henry A. Jordan

CHAIRPERSON’S AWARD FOR DEMONSTRATED LEADERSHIP IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Bonnie Wilkinson Mark (Dauphin County)
Chairperson’s Award Sponsor: Margaret Wallis


LEADERSHIP AWARDS

SPECIAL FOCUS AWARD

Ralph Modjeski Award for Excellence in Transportation Design, Preservation or Archaeology - For an exceptional effort within the transportation field that results in an improvement in transportation systems while respecting and preserving the best practices of compatible design and historic preservation principles.

Chestnut Street Bridges over CSX and 24th Street (Philadelphia County)
Honoring: PennDOT District 6-0; Benesch; Buckley & Co.; Materials Conservation Collaborative/Marco Federico, Heritage Conservation Collective, LLC

Modjeski Award Sponsor: Modjeski and Masters, celebrating 130 years of technical excellence and innovation


TURNING POINT AWARD

In recognition of an individual or organization whose efforts have resulted in a crucial change in the potential outcome for a historic place listed on Pennsylvania At Risk.

Carlisle Indian School Farmhouse Rehabilitation (Cumberland County)
Honoring: United States Army Garrison Carlisle Barracks

 Lynnewood Hall (Montgomery County)
Honoring: Lynnewood Hall Preservation Foundation

Turning Point Award Sponsor: A. Roy Smith

 

LEADERSHIP AWARD FOR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Community preservation/heritage issues or projects ranging from a grassroots advocacy project to commemoration of a place/person or event.

The Slate Belt History Project (including the Quarry Hoist Pavilion) (Northampton County)

Honoring: Borough of Bangor; Totts Gap Arts Institute; Slate Belt Heritage Center

 

LEADERSHIP AWARD FOR EDUCATION

Innovative preservation/heritage educational programs or curricula

Minerva Parker Nichols Research Project, Exhibit and Book (Philadelphia County)

Honoring: Molly Lester, William Whitaker, Heather Isbell Schumacher, and Elizabeth Felicella

 

LEADERSHIP AWARD FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE

In recognition of quick action to repair and/or preserve a historic resource after a threat or catastrophic event, such as fire, flooding, or extreme weather.

Fort Washington Ida Tornado, Homeowner Porch Reconstruction(Montgomery County)

Honoring:  Sharon Shapowal; J&M Preservation Studio; JRB Historic Restoration, LLC

 

LEADERSHIP AWARD FOR PUBLIC IMPACT

Excellence in using a historic building as a catalyst to enrich a community. Includes examples of small business or adaptive reuse.

Nicholson Tourism Center at the Historic DL&W Train Station (Wyoming County)

21 Lackawanna Trail, Nicholson

Honoring: Nicholson Heritage Association; Reuther + Bowen


LEADERSHIP AWARD FOR STEWARDSHIP

Exceptional stewardship efforts by an individual or group on behalf of a significant historic resource.

Athenaeum of Philadelphia (Philadelphia County)

219 S. 6th Street, Philadelphia

Honoring: The Athenaeum of Philadelphia; Kreilick Conservation, LLC


Construction Awards

RESTORATION

The Orchid House at Longwood Gardens (Chester County)

Honoring: John Milner Architects, Inc.; Bancroft Construction


REHABILITATION

Burk-Bergman Boathouse (Philadelphia County)

11 Boathouse Row, Philadelphia

Honoring: University of Pennsylvania; Ewing Cole; Keast & Hood; SBK + Partners, LLC; Pennoni; Target Building Construction


Bischoff Inn (Schuylkill County)

320 Lafayette Street, Tamaqua

Honoring: Torat, Ltd.; Warehaus; Gina M. Douty Historic Preservation Consulting; Heim Construction Co., Inc.


Old Neiffer Road Bridge Over Swamp Creek (also known as Sunrise Mill Bridge) (Montgomery County)

3431 Neiffer Rd., Schwenksville

Honoring: Montgomery County; Gannett Fleming, Inc.; A.D. Marble; Loftus Construction, Inc.


Old Lehigh County Courthouse (Lehigh County)

503 Hamilton Street, Allentown

Honoring: County of Lehigh; Artefact, Inc.; The Architectural Studio; Benesch; Strunk-Albert Engineering; Skanska USA; S.A. Comunale; Albarell Electric; JBM Mechanical; The Warko Group; and Wilmer R. Schultz, Inc.; Element Environmental Solutions


Yorktowne Hotel (York County)

48 East Market Street, York

Honoring: York County Industrial Development Authority; NuTec Design;  JDB Engineering; Beatty Harvey Coco Architects; Delta Development Group; Kinsley Construction


Thank you to our sponsors!

Haas Award Sponsor: Tom Hagen

Jordan Award Sponsor: Mrs. Henry A. Jordan

Chairperson's Award Sponsor: Margaret Wallis

Turning Point Award; A. Roy Smith

Ralph Modjeski Award: Modjeski and Masters: Celebrating 130 years of technical excellence and innovation


Brick Sponsors

Thank you to the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission for special sponsorship support!



2022 Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Awards


We celebrated the 2022 honorees on Tuesday, November 15 at the Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center in West Chester (Chester County).



2021 Awards

Thank you to everyone who joined us to kick off our 40th Anniversary year.

We honored Jeff Marshall (Bucks County) and Sydelle Zove (Montgomery County) for their outstanding work.

Our keynote speaker was Bonnie McDonald of The Relevancy Project, speaking about the future of historic preservation.

Not able to attend? View the event video below and read our news post about the 2021 Preservation Pennsylvania Honor Awards.

(Video not showing? Click here.)


Updates on award recipients & Sponsors

Click a post below to read more!

pennsylvania historic preservation awards

Pennsylvania’s Historic Preservation Awards continue a tradition started in 1979 to honor excellence in preservation. The annual awards recognize significant contributions in the field of historic preservation made by both individuals and organizations. The Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Awards are presented annually by Preservation Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Awards were held as part of  the Statewide Conference on Heritage and took place on Wednesday, October 14, 2020.  

If you weren't able to attend, click here to view the award ceremony.

Click here for the downloadable awards newsletter pdf.


Newsletter Archive/Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Awards


HONOR Awards

 

 

F. Otto Haas Award

In 1987, Preservation Pennsylvania established this award to honor their Past Chairman, F. Otto Haas (1915-1994), a noted preservationist and philanthropist. The award is a standing recognition of his service and contributions to historic preservation across the state.

Mr. Haas was a founding board member Preservation Pennsylvania, served two terms as Chairman of the Board, and was a valuable advisor to the organization until his death in 1994. His dedication to Preservation Pennsylvania and historic preservation in Pennsylvania still inspires us today.

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

2021 Jeffrey Marshall
2020  Brenda Barrett
2019  William Fontana, Pennsylvania Downtown Center
2018  Natural Lands
2017  The Progress Fund
2016  Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office
2015  Thomas B. Hagen
2014  Paul M. Heberling
2013  A. Roy Smith
2012  Janet S. Klein
2011  Susan Star Paddock and No Casino Gettysburg
2010  John Milner, FAIA
2009  Robert and Ruth Bascom, Wharton Esherick Museum
2008  Partners for Sacred Places
2007  Rick Sebak
2006  Caroline E. Boyce
2005  Pennsylvania Heritage Parks Program, PA Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources
2004  Pennsylvania Capitol Preservation Committee
2003  Charles Peterson FAIA
2002  John B. Rosenthal & Pennrose Properties
2001  Arthur P. Ziegler, Jr.
2000  Thomas Hylton
1999  Mary Werner DeNadai
1998  Louis J. Appell, Jr.
1997  Henry A. Jordan, M.D.
1996  Steel Industry Heritage Corporation
1995  Samuel Dornsife
1994  John Murtha
1993  Kurt Zwikl
1992  Hyman Myers
1991  Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission
1990  The Pew Charitable Trusts, William Penn Foundation, Stockton Rush Bartol Foundation
1989  First National Bank of Pennsylvania
1988  Chester County Commissioners

Henry A. Jordan Award

This award is named for Henry A. Jordan (1936-2010), a former Preservation Pennsylvania Board Chairman and life-long supporter of the historic preservation movement.

In keeping with Henry’s belief that it is at the local level where real historic preservation occurs, this award honors outstanding historic preservation efforts at the local/regional level.

2021 Sydelle Zove
2020  Historic Gettysburg Adams County Barn Preservation Project
2019  Eugene L. DiOrio
2018  Astride McLanahan
2017  James L. Brown IV
2016  City of Lancaster
2015  Jacqueline J. Melander
2014  Salvatore J. Panto, Jr.
2013  Historic Harrisburg Association
2012  Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust
2011  John Andrew Gallery
2010  Thomas Potter, AIA

Modjeski Award

The Modjeski Award is named for Ralph Modjeski (1861–1940), considered "America's greatest bridge builder." He emigrated from Poland in 1876 at the age of 15. In 1885 he graduated from the School of Bridges and Roads in France at the top of his class. He went on to become a highly successful civil engineer and one of the twentieth century's most famous designers and builders of bridges, with nearly 40 bridges spanning the great rivers of North America. In 1930, Modjeski was awarded the Fritz Gold Medal, with a citation for his genius in combining strength and beauty. He was also honored by the Pennsylvania state legislature in 1966 by a resolution citing him as one of America's "greatest inventors."

In 1893, he started his own firm that became known as Modjeski and Masters when Frank M. Masters joined the firm in 1924. He remained professionally active until 1936, training succeeding generations of American bridge designers and engineers.

When an award was proposed to honor Excellence in Transportation Design, Preservation or Archaeology, the name Ralph Modjeski seemed a perfect fit to honor the very best in the transportation field.


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