The National Park Service's Heritage Documentation Programs (HDP), The Athenaeum of Philadelphia, the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and the Association for Preservation Technology International (APT) announce the 2026 Charles E. Peterson Prize, which annually recognizes the best set of measured drawings prepared to HDP standards and donated to HDP by students. Cash prizes and certificates are offered to the winners.
The prize honors Charles E. Peterson, FAIA, one of the founders of the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), and is intended to increase awareness, knowledge, and appreciation of historic buildings, structures, and cultural landscapes throughout the United States while adding to the permanent HABS/HAER/HALS Collection of measured drawings at the Library of Congress. To date, more than 4,000 students from 75 colleges and universities have participated by completing more than 700 entries and more than 7,200 sheets of measured drawings. The students have worked alone and in groups, in required courses, electives, independent study and summer institutes. They have been, for the most part, architecture and landscape architecture students in addition to architectural history, interior design, and historic preservation majors.
For the Peterson Prize entry form and additional information, please visit:
Peterson Prize - Heritage Documentation Programs (U.S. National Park Service)
Please note that the dates in the website announcement have not been updated!
This year's deadlines are:
- May 31, 2026 – Postmark deadline for submission of entry forms
- June 30, 2026 – Postmark deadline for submission of completed entries
- August 2026 – Prize Jury convenes and winners announced
- November 2026 – Awards ceremony
Those in our community who are involved with educational programs who would benefit from participation in this competition, please pass this invitation along!
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Robert Burns, AIA
Past Chair
Historic Resources Committee Advisory Group
Richmond, VA
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