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.
Thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination to the 2024 Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Awards!
We hope you will join us for the Award Ceremony on October 24 at the extraordinary Zembo Shrine in Harrisburg!
Click here for the 2024 Pennshylvania Historic Preservation Award announcement.
Be a sponsor of the 2024 Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Awards!
Click here to review sponsorship options. Click here to purchase a sponsorship online.
CONSTRUCTION AWARDS
The Construction Awards honor outstanding examples of
Private/Homeowner/Small business rehabilitation
Restoration
Rehabilitation
Infill/new construction in a historic district
Documentation (pre-construction)
Examples of possible submissions might include a small business owner’s facade restoration; adaptive reuse of an old building for affordable housing; a homeowner’s sensitive update of a neglected building; or a company’s rehabilitation of a white elephant property for a new use.
This category includes a 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.
LEADERSHIP AWARDS
The Leadership Awards recognize achievements in the following categories.
Adaptability/Sustainability - Innovative approaches in planning for the effects of climate change. Examples might include a municipal study for stormwater management or mitigating the effects of flooding in a historic district; use of innovative technologies or materials in retrofitting a historic building, or creatively overcoming obstacles in the rehab of a challenging building. 2020 Recipient: Phipps Conservatory Exhibit Staging Center (Allegheny County)
Communication - Exceptional quality in research initiatives, preservation/heritage publications, outstanding educational campaigns, social media outreach or media coverage of preservation/heritage efforts or issues. 2019 Recipient: Delaware Canal Vision Study, DCNR, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Bucks & Northampton Counties)
Community Involvement - Community preservation/heritage issues or projects ranging from a grassroots advocacy project to commemoration of a place/person or event. 2020 Recipient: Governor Wolf Historical Society (Northampton County)
Education - Innovative preservation/heritage educational programs or curricula. 2020 Recipient: Al Capone’s Cell at Eastern State Penitentiary (Philadelphia County) 2019 Recipient: Neighborhood Preservation Toolkit, PennPraxis, Philadelphia (Philadelphia County)
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 tornados. 2018 Recipient: Saint Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church (Philadelphia County)
Grassroots Advocacy – Innovative examples of assistance that helped communities protect and preserve the historic places that matter to them. 2018 Recipient: Sydelle Zove for Abolition Hall (Montgomery County)
Local Government – Local Government - For exceptional government support and/or involvement in preservation/heritage issues, programs, or projects. 2022 Recipient: Luzerne County Courthouse (Luzerne County)
Preservation Planning - Demonstrate the best planning and development practices to promote historic preservation, whether grassroots development or large-scale multi-jurisdictional. 2022 Recipients: Belmont/David M. Mayer House (Lancaster County)
Public Impact - Excellence in using a historic building as a catalyst to enrich a community. Includes examples of small business or adaptive reuse. 2022 Recipient: Columbia Market House (Lancaster County)
Stewardship - Exceptional stewardship efforts by an individual or group on behalf of a significant historic resource. (Ongoing standard maintenance does not rise to award level.) 2022 Recipient: Christ Church Tower and Steeple Restoration by the Christ Church Project Committee (Philadelphia County) 2020 Recipient: The Civic Club [Overlook] (Dauphin County)
Updates on award recipients & Sponsors
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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.
Newsletter Archive/Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Awards
2024 Awards newsletter pdf
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.
2024 Barbara Barksdale
2023 Jeff Kidder
2022 40th Anniversary
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.
2024 Charlene Donchez Mowers
2023 David Morrison
2022 Royal Square Development & Construction
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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