Preservation Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth’s only statewide nonprofit dedicated to historic preservation, has recognized outstanding preservation work across the commonwealth with its annual awards presentations since 1979. “Preservation work can be full of disappointments, but our awards event is a celebration of success stories!” said Preservation Pennsylvania’s Executive Director Mindy Crawford. “This is the opportunity for our statewide community to gather together and highlight truly remarkable achievements. The Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Awards are when we say ‘thank you’ and ‘well done’ to the people who have sacrificed, persevered and rallied community support around saving a beloved local landmark.”
This year, 17 people and projects from across the state are receiving the honor, after selection by an independent review panel of preservation professionals. The awards will be presented at the Zembo Shrine in Harrisburg on October 24. Doors open at 2:30 pm. The Awards Ceremony begins at 3:30 pm with a reception to follow.
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Click here to download a pdf of the 2024 PA Historic Preservation Awards press release.
Media: to request images, contact Sabra Smith @ ssmith@preservationpa.org
(Featured image at top: Guests mingle in the food court of the Berks County Trust Company Building under the newly restored ceiling. Badge image with confetti: Zembo Shrine interior.)
With great pleasure, Preservation Pennsylvania announces the recipients of the 2024 Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Awards, honoring outstanding achievement in historic preservation across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
HONOR AWARDS
The F. Otto Haas Award for outstanding achievements in historic preservation will be presented to Barbara Barksdale of Dauphin County, in recognition of her extraordinary efforts to protect, preserve and promote the Midland Cemetery in Harrisburg and for co-founding the Pennsylvania Hallowed Grounds nonprofit organization, which has created a strong statewide network for stewards of African American cemeteries. (The F. Otto Haas Award is sponsored by A. Roy Smith.)
The Henry A. Jordan Award for outstanding historic preservation efforts at the local level will be presented to Charlene Donchez Mowers of Northampton County, honoring her decades of leadership in preserving and promoting the history of Bethlehem and strengthening its heritage tourism impact. (The Henry A. Jordan Award is sponsored by Mrs. Henry A. Jordan.)
This year’s Chairperson’s Award for demonstrated leadership in historic preservation will recognize the Zembo Shriners, Gina M. Douty Historic Preservation Consulting, LLC, and Historic Harrisburg Association for their stewardship of the historic 1929 Moorish Revival building in Harrisburg, Dauphin County.
RALPH MODJESKI AWARD
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.
The Cantini Mosaics 106 Consulting Parties (Allegheny County)
Honoring: Honoring City of Pittsburgh; PennDOT District 11; Federal Highway Administration; Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission; Lisa Cantini Seguin, daughter of artist Virgil Cantini; Melissa Marinaro, Director of the Italian American Program at the Heinz History Center; Brittany Reilly, Preservation Pittsburgh Modern Committee; Laura Ricketts, local historian and historic preservation advocate; Jesse Belfast, local historian and historic preservation advocate; Matthew Craig, Young Preservationists Association; Matthew Falcone, Preservation Pittsburgh; Lisa Haadbestad, Pfaffmann + Associates; SallyAnn Kluz and Derek Reese, Office of Public Art (now ShiftWorks Pittsburgh); Rob Pfaffmann, Pfaffmann + Associates; Sarah Minnaert, Tony Cavalline, and Sarah Quinn, City of Pittsburgh Department of City Planning; Jeff Slack, Time & Place, LLC; Will Zavala, University of Pittsburgh
Mosaics Conservation and Installation Project: eHoldings; SB Thomas Thomas & Associates, Inc.; Landmarks SGA; McKay Lodge Conservation Laboratory; Wyatt Incorporation; Sargent Electric Company
LEADERSHIP AWARDS
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.
Laurel Hill Emergency Bridge Repair (Philadelphia County)
Honoring: Laurel Hill Cemetery; TranSystems; Loftus Construction
Grassroots Advocacy
Innovative examples of assistance that helped communities protect and preserve the historic places that matter to them.
James A. Hill (Allegheny County)
Union County Historical Society Gallery & Museum (former Packwood House) (Union County)
Honoring: Union County Historical Society
Public Impact
For excellence in using a historic building as a catalyst to enrich a community. Includes examples of small business or adaptive reuse.
WCR Center for the Arts (former Women’s Club of Reading) (Berks County)
Honoring: WCR Center for the Arts
West Shore Theater (Cumberland County)
Honoring: Friends of the West Shore Theatre, Inc.; Chris Dawson Architect; Lobar Associates
CONSTRUCTION AWARDS: Rehabilitation Projects
A and Indiana, former Hoyle, Harrison & Kaye Textile Mill (Philadelphia County)
Honoring: Barton Partners Architects; Clemens Construction Company; McHugh Engineering; O’Donnell & Naccarato; Delta Development Group; Becker & Frondorf; Marcus Reinvestment Strategies
Berks County Trust Company Building (Berks County)
Honoring: Shuman Development Group; Louis Masciotti Architect; Drafting Solutions; Delta Development Group, Inc.
General William Thompson House, “Soldiers Retreat” (Cumberland County)
Honoring:The late James P Howell and Gwen Howell; Kevin Hollowell Restoration
Laros Silk Mill (Northampton County)
Honoring: VM Development Group, LLC; Artefact; Strunk-Albert Engineering; Mulhern Consulting Engineers; Hofmeister Engineering; Lock Ridge Engineering
Mount Carbon Bowstring Truss Bridge (Schuylkill County)
Honoring: PennDOT District 5-0; Gannett Fleming; Susquehanna Civil; Fabcor, Inc.
Mt Tabor Preservation Project (Cumberland County)
Honoring: Mt. Tabor Preservation Project Board; Mount Holly Springs Borough; SBA Architects; Halteman Home Improvements
Robert N. C. Nix Federal Building (Philadelphia County)
Honoring: General Services Administration; Department of State; Mills + Schnoering Architects, LLC; The Bedwell Company; Keast & Hood; Henry Adams; Jensen Hughes; K2 Audio, LLC (now Salas O’Brien); The Lighting Practice; AFG Group, Inc.; LVCK, LLC (now LVCK – A Beyer Blinder Belle Studio); Becker & Frondorf; Materials Conservation Co.; Page Conservation Inc.; Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (CCAHA)
Woodford Mansion (Philadelphia County)
Honoring: Naomi Wood Trust; Mark B. Thompson Associates, PC
About Preservation Pennsylvania
Preservation Pennsylvania is the Commonwealth’s only private statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people protect and preserve the historic places that matter to them.
Preservation Pennsylvania was established by the Commonwealth’s General Assembly in 1982 as the Preservation Fund of Pennsylvania, a statewide revolving fund to assist in the acquisition and rehabilitation of historic properties. Since then, Preservation Pennsylvania has grown into its role as a private, nonprofit membership organization with a statewide mission to protect and preserve Pennsylvania’s irreplaceable historic places.
We assist individuals, organizations, corporations, and governmental agencies from across the Commonwealth in their own preservation-related efforts, through a dynamic scope of activities and services. Whether as a leader, partner, or advisor, Preservation Pennsylvania works to secure the future of the past through educational outreach workshops and events, legislative advocacy, advisory and technical assistance in the field, and other special initiatives.
The annual Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Awards allows us to provide recognition for exceptional preservation work taking place across the state and also serves as a fundraiser for our nonprofit organization, so we’re able to continue our work helping people save the places they love. We welcome your support through sponsorship, membership or donations.