Historic Resources Committee

I was shocked to see that there is no Historic Architecture or Preservation category for the National AIA Awards. These projects are simply not eligible to be considered for awards. This is absurd and an insult to architects who do historic preservation. How long have we been snubbed? How can we correct this oversight?

As someone who has practiced in the field of Historic Preservation Architecture for almost 50 years I've had zero luck in submitting historic preservation projects for awards to the AIA.  I've received a Drive-By Jury Award for the Restoration of the President Harding Railroad Car (1905) in Fairbanks, Alaska at AIA Alaska State Conference in 1994, but that's it.  I've submitted several Historic Preservation Projects to AIA Alaska over the years but the jury's are confused by the prospect of historic preservation and haven't awarded any of my 34 plus National Register projects any award of any type.  I've received the Preservation Award for the Non-Commissioned Officer's Quarters (1900) at Fort Egbert, Eagle, Alaska in 2007 from Preservation Alaska.  I've had projects featured in many articles in local and national news and been featured on Bob Vila's Restore America on HGTV for one of my projects.  Projects have also been featured in the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Preservation Magazine.  As my sponsor for my first submittal for AIA Fellowship stated three years ago, the AIA doesn't seem to understand that Preservation Architects don't do their projects for awards, they do them to preserve history and allow our children's children to learn our history wherever that might be.  The AIA should recognize historic preservation projects in their own category with jurors who are knowledgeable on preservation.  That would be my hope, but I'm not holding my breath!  My web site link and contact information is below if we want to band together and make a proposal to the AIA on the issue of AIA Historic Preservation Project Awards, I'm all in!

Sam Combs, AIA, NCARB, Architect          

Combs & Combs, AIA, Architecture, Interiors & Art

7480 Upper O'Malley Road

Anchorage, Alaska 99507

Office Phone:  907-346-3990

Cell Phone:  907-250-4207

Web Site:  www.combsandcombsaia.com

I was shocked to see that there is no Historic Architecture or Preservation category for the National AIA Awards. These projects are simply not eligible to be considered for awards. This is absurd and an insult to architects who do historic preservation. How long have we been snubbed? How can we correct this oversight?

As someone who has practiced in the field of Historic Preservation Architecture for almost 50 years I've had zero luck in submitting historic preservation projects for awards to the AIA.  I've received a Drive-By Jury Award for the Restoration of the President Harding Railroad Car (1905) in Fairbanks, Alaska at AIA Alaska State Conference in 1994, but that's it.  I've submitted several Historic Preservation Projects to AIA Alaska over the years but the jury's are confused by the prospect of historic preservation and haven't awarded any of my 34 plus National Register projects any award of any type.  I've received the Preservation Award for the Non-Commissioned Officer's Quarters (1900) at Fort Egbert, Eagle, Alaska in 2007 from Preservation Alaska.  I've had projects featured in many articles in local and national news and been featured on Bob Vila's Restore America on HGTV for one of my projects.  Projects have also been featured in the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Preservation Magazine.  As my sponsor for my first submittal for AIA Fellowship stated three years ago, the AIA doesn't seem to understand that Preservation Architects don't do their projects for awards, they do them to preserve history and allow our children's children to learn our history wherever that might be.  The AIA should recognize historic preservation projects in their own category with jurors who are knowledgeable on preservation.  That would be my hope, but I'm not holding my breath!  My web site link and contact information is below if we want to band together and make a proposal to the AIA on the issue of AIA Historic Preservation Project Awards, I'm all in!

Sam Combs, AIA, NCARB, Architect          

Combs & Combs, AIA, Architecture, Interiors & Art

7480 Upper O'Malley Road

Anchorage, Alaska 99507

Office Phone:  907-346-3990

Cell Phone:  907-250-4207

Web Site:  www.combsandcombsaia.com

I was shocked to see that there is no Historic Architecture or Preservation category for the National AIA Awards. These projects are simply not eligible to be considered for awards. This is absurd and an insult to architects who do historic preservation. How long have we been snubbed? How can we correct this oversight?

I was shocked to see that there is no Historic Architecture or Preservation category for the National AIA Awards. These projects are simply not eligible to be considered for awards. This is absurd and an insult to architects who do historic preservation. How long have we been snubbed? How can we correct this oversight?

Historic preservation projects are eligible to be submitted for the national AIA Architecture Awards (formerly Institute Honor Awards for Architecture). Historic preservation projects that have won in the last dozen years include:

• 2020 Architecture Award – Minnesota State Capitol Restoration, St. Paul MN, HGA
• 2019 Architecture Award – Restoration of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville VA, John G. Waite Associates, Architects
• 2017 Honor Award for Architecture – Yale Center for British Art Building Conservation Project, New Haven CT, Knight Architecture
• 2016 Honor Award for Architecture – St. Patrick's Cathedral Conservation, Renovation, and Systems Upgrade, New York NY, Murphy Burnham & Buttrick Architects
• 2013 Honor Award for Architecture – The New York Public Library Exterior Restoration, New York NY, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.

Projects that combine preservation with additions, alterations, or adaptive reuse include:

• 2023 Interior Architecture Award – Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, Washington DC, OTJ Architects and Mecanoo
• 2022 Architecture Award and 2022 Interior Architecture Award – Richardson Olmsted Campus, Buffalo NY, Design Architect and Interior Designer: Deborah Berke Partners; Executive Architect: Flynn Battaglia Architects; Historic Preservation Architect: Goody Clancy
• 2022 Architecture Award – The Century Project at the Space Needle, Seattle WA, Olson Kundig
• 2021 Architecture Award – TWA Hotel, New York NY, Beyer Blinder Belle

Nancy Hadley, Director, Archives & Records, The American Institute of Architects

I was shocked to see that there is no Historic Architecture or Preservation category for the National AIA Awards. These projects are simply not eligible to be considered for awards. This is absurd and an insult to architects who do historic preservation. How long have we been snubbed? How can we correct this oversight?

Nancy,

Thanks for this info. I'm glad that historic preservation projects are eligible to be submitted (although no winners in the past 5 years). I was told the opposite by Gabrielle Bullock from AIA National Awards staff during an AIA Awards Workshop webinar last week. I would hope that there could be a Historic Preservation category added to the current 12 project categories.

Historic preservation projects are eligible to be submitted for the national AIA Architecture Awards (formerly Institute Honor Awards for Architecture). Historic preservation projects that have won in the last dozen years include:

• 2020 Architecture Award – Minnesota State Capitol Restoration, St. Paul MN, HGA
• 2019 Architecture Award – Restoration of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville VA, John G. Waite Associates, Architects
• 2017 Honor Award for Architecture – Yale Center for British Art Building Conservation Project, New Haven CT, Knight Architecture
• 2016 Honor Award for Architecture – St. Patrick's Cathedral Conservation, Renovation, and Systems Upgrade, New York NY, Murphy Burnham & Buttrick Architects
• 2013 Honor Award for Architecture – The New York Public Library Exterior Restoration, New York NY, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.

Projects that combine preservation with additions, alterations, or adaptive reuse include:

• 2023 Interior Architecture Award – Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, Washington DC, OTJ Architects and Mecanoo
• 2022 Architecture Award and 2022 Interior Architecture Award – Richardson Olmsted Campus, Buffalo NY, Design Architect and Interior Designer: Deborah Berke Partners; Executive Architect: Flynn Battaglia Architects; Historic Preservation Architect: Goody Clancy
• 2022 Architecture Award – The Century Project at the Space Needle, Seattle WA, Olson Kundig
• 2021 Architecture Award – TWA Hotel, New York NY, Beyer Blinder Belle

Nancy Hadley, Director, Archives & Records, The American Institute of Architects

I was shocked to see that there is no Historic Architecture or Preservation category for the National AIA Awards. These projects are simply not eligible to be considered for awards. This is absurd and an insult to architects who do historic preservation. How long have we been snubbed? How can we correct this oversight?

I would have to agree with Paul Marshall that there should be a category for Historic Preservation projects and I would add an adaptive re-use of historic structures.  Competing against new structures has not worked out well for me in that the jurors only see an old building and don't see the beneficial, economical and environmental aspects a restored structure delivers for a community.

Nancy,

Thanks for this info. I'm glad that historic preservation projects are eligible to be submitted (although no winners in the past 5 years). I was told the opposite by Gabrielle Bullock from AIA National Awards staff during an AIA Awards Workshop webinar last week. I would hope that there could be a Historic Preservation category added to the current 12 project categories.

Historic preservation projects are eligible to be submitted for the national AIA Architecture Awards (formerly Institute Honor Awards for Architecture). Historic preservation projects that have won in the last dozen years include:

• 2020 Architecture Award – Minnesota State Capitol Restoration, St. Paul MN, HGA
• 2019 Architecture Award – Restoration of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville VA, John G. Waite Associates, Architects
• 2017 Honor Award for Architecture – Yale Center for British Art Building Conservation Project, New Haven CT, Knight Architecture
• 2016 Honor Award for Architecture – St. Patrick's Cathedral Conservation, Renovation, and Systems Upgrade, New York NY, Murphy Burnham & Buttrick Architects
• 2013 Honor Award for Architecture – The New York Public Library Exterior Restoration, New York NY, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.

Projects that combine preservation with additions, alterations, or adaptive reuse include:

• 2023 Interior Architecture Award – Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, Washington DC, OTJ Architects and Mecanoo
• 2022 Architecture Award and 2022 Interior Architecture Award – Richardson Olmsted Campus, Buffalo NY, Design Architect and Interior Designer: Deborah Berke Partners; Executive Architect: Flynn Battaglia Architects; Historic Preservation Architect: Goody Clancy
• 2022 Architecture Award – The Century Project at the Space Needle, Seattle WA, Olson Kundig
• 2021 Architecture Award – TWA Hotel, New York NY, Beyer Blinder Belle

Nancy Hadley, Director, Archives & Records, The American Institute of Architects

I was shocked to see that there is no Historic Architecture or Preservation category for the National AIA Awards. These projects are simply not eligible to be considered for awards. This is absurd and an insult to architects who do historic preservation. How long have we been snubbed? How can we correct this oversight?

I would like to associate myself with Mr. Combs' comments, which reflect my experience as well. Perhaps this is a "Western US" thing, where there are fewer of us in preservation practice compared to the east coast. The prevailing ethos amongst architects in our region carries a definite bias toward modern cutting-edge design. Most architects in my state don't understand the goals and values of preservation work, and they populate the AIA and the award juries. More than once, I have had award-worthy projects submitted in a "historic preservation" category and get beat out by projects that barely tipped a hat to the Secretary's standards and, in my view, unacceptably compromised historical integrity. But I have had projects win numerous awards and be recognized within the preservation community. So, I have given up trying to get projects recognized by my architectural peers. It's apparently not my party.

So, I wholeheartedly endorse the idea of a set-aside in the AIA awards structure (both nationally and at the state level) where projects can be judged on criteria that reflect preservation values. Looking at the list of award recipients provided by Ms. Hadley, nearly all of these worthy projects have things going for them that have nothing to do with the quality of the preservation work:  being really big buildings (i.e. state capitol); being particularly important buildings (i.e. St. Patrick's Cathedral); or having famous original architects (i.e. Kahn).  Many award-worthy preservation projects have none of these qualities. I'd suggest that criteria that should also be considered include overcoming technical challenges creatively; sensitive integration of modern systems and programmatic needs; and addressing conflicts between historical form and modern requirements for building safety and accessibility, to name a few. I'm sure the group reading this thread could add a few more.

I would have to agree with Paul Marshall that there should be a category for Historic Preservation projects and I would add an adaptive re-use of historic structures.  Competing against new structures has not worked out well for me in that the jurors only see an old building and don't see the beneficial, economical and environmental aspects a restored structure delivers for a community.

Nancy,

Thanks for this info. I'm glad that historic preservation projects are eligible to be submitted (although no winners in the past 5 years). I was told the opposite by Gabrielle Bullock from AIA National Awards staff during an AIA Awards Workshop webinar last week. I would hope that there could be a Historic Preservation category added to the current 12 project categories.

Historic preservation projects are eligible to be submitted for the national AIA Architecture Awards (formerly Institute Honor Awards for Architecture). Historic preservation projects that have won in the last dozen years include:

• 2020 Architecture Award – Minnesota State Capitol Restoration, St. Paul MN, HGA
• 2019 Architecture Award – Restoration of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville VA, John G. Waite Associates, Architects
• 2017 Honor Award for Architecture – Yale Center for British Art Building Conservation Project, New Haven CT, Knight Architecture
• 2016 Honor Award for Architecture – St. Patrick's Cathedral Conservation, Renovation, and Systems Upgrade, New York NY, Murphy Burnham & Buttrick Architects
• 2013 Honor Award for Architecture – The New York Public Library Exterior Restoration, New York NY, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.

Projects that combine preservation with additions, alterations, or adaptive reuse include:

• 2023 Interior Architecture Award – Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, Washington DC, OTJ Architects and Mecanoo
• 2022 Architecture Award and 2022 Interior Architecture Award – Richardson Olmsted Campus, Buffalo NY, Design Architect and Interior Designer: Deborah Berke Partners; Executive Architect: Flynn Battaglia Architects; Historic Preservation Architect: Goody Clancy
• 2022 Architecture Award – The Century Project at the Space Needle, Seattle WA, Olson Kundig
• 2021 Architecture Award – TWA Hotel, New York NY, Beyer Blinder Belle

Nancy Hadley, Director, Archives & Records, The American Institute of Architects

I was shocked to see that there is no Historic Architecture or Preservation category for the National AIA Awards. These projects are simply not eligible to be considered for awards. This is absurd and an insult to architects who do historic preservation. How long have we been snubbed? How can we correct this oversight?

Good evening all - 

I wanted to offer some perspective on this and thank you to Nancy for providing information on the awards program opportunities. I served on HRC for 5 years and during that time there were coordinated initiatives to AIA National leadership to advocate for separate awards - to no avail.  A decade ago there was an "agreement" to have a preservation voice on the Honor awards jury. In 2016, I was lucky enough to serve in this capacity and was able to advocate for 3 historic projects of various types to make the cut of the +/- 12 final award winners. I thoroughly enjoyed the jury - but did need to explain to several of my peers of the value of preservation projects as design.  I am not positive if that "agreement" is still in force - but certainly hope that it is. Nancy - are you able to shed any light on that? If it is not - I would highly encourage another coordinated effort (COTE/HRC/COD) to try again. (And I would encourage all of you to locally advocate for honoring preservation/rehabilitation and adaptive reuse projects in your chapter level awards programs as well as a stepping stone to an AIA National Honor award.)
Thank you! 

I would like to associate myself with Mr. Combs' comments, which reflect my experience as well. Perhaps this is a "Western US" thing, where there are fewer of us in preservation practice compared to the east coast. The prevailing ethos amongst architects in our region carries a definite bias toward modern cutting-edge design. Most architects in my state don't understand the goals and values of preservation work, and they populate the AIA and the award juries. More than once, I have had award-worthy projects submitted in a "historic preservation" category and get beat out by projects that barely tipped a hat to the Secretary's standards and, in my view, unacceptably compromised historical integrity. But I have had projects win numerous awards and be recognized within the preservation community. So, I have given up trying to get projects recognized by my architectural peers. It's apparently not my party.

So, I wholeheartedly endorse the idea of a set-aside in the AIA awards structure (both nationally and at the state level) where projects can be judged on criteria that reflect preservation values. Looking at the list of award recipients provided by Ms. Hadley, nearly all of these worthy projects have things going for them that have nothing to do with the quality of the preservation work:  being really big buildings (i.e. state capitol); being particularly important buildings (i.e. St. Patrick's Cathedral); or having famous original architects (i.e. Kahn).  Many award-worthy preservation projects have none of these qualities. I'd suggest that criteria that should also be considered include overcoming technical challenges creatively; sensitive integration of modern systems and programmatic needs; and addressing conflicts between historical form and modern requirements for building safety and accessibility, to name a few. I'm sure the group reading this thread could add a few more.

I would have to agree with Paul Marshall that there should be a category for Historic Preservation projects and I would add an adaptive re-use of historic structures.  Competing against new structures has not worked out well for me in that the jurors only see an old building and don't see the beneficial, economical and environmental aspects a restored structure delivers for a community.

Nancy,

Thanks for this info. I'm glad that historic preservation projects are eligible to be submitted (although no winners in the past 5 years). I was told the opposite by Gabrielle Bullock from AIA National Awards staff during an AIA Awards Workshop webinar last week. I would hope that there could be a Historic Preservation category added to the current 12 project categories.

Historic preservation projects are eligible to be submitted for the national AIA Architecture Awards (formerly Institute Honor Awards for Architecture). Historic preservation projects that have won in the last dozen years include:

• 2020 Architecture Award – Minnesota State Capitol Restoration, St. Paul MN, HGA
• 2019 Architecture Award – Restoration of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville VA, John G. Waite Associates, Architects
• 2017 Honor Award for Architecture – Yale Center for British Art Building Conservation Project, New Haven CT, Knight Architecture
• 2016 Honor Award for Architecture – St. Patrick's Cathedral Conservation, Renovation, and Systems Upgrade, New York NY, Murphy Burnham & Buttrick Architects
• 2013 Honor Award for Architecture – The New York Public Library Exterior Restoration, New York NY, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.

Projects that combine preservation with additions, alterations, or adaptive reuse include:

• 2023 Interior Architecture Award – Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, Washington DC, OTJ Architects and Mecanoo
• 2022 Architecture Award and 2022 Interior Architecture Award – Richardson Olmsted Campus, Buffalo NY, Design Architect and Interior Designer: Deborah Berke Partners; Executive Architect: Flynn Battaglia Architects; Historic Preservation Architect: Goody Clancy
• 2022 Architecture Award – The Century Project at the Space Needle, Seattle WA, Olson Kundig
• 2021 Architecture Award – TWA Hotel, New York NY, Beyer Blinder Belle

Nancy Hadley, Director, Archives & Records, The American Institute of Architects

I was shocked to see that there is no Historic Architecture or Preservation category for the National AIA Awards. These projects are simply not eligible to be considered for awards. This is absurd and an insult to architects who do historic preservation. How long have we been snubbed? How can we correct this oversight?

I was shocked to see that there is no Historic Architecture or Preservation category for the National AIA Awards. These projects are simply not eligible to be considered for awards. This is absurd and an insult to architects who do historic preservation. How long have we been snubbed? How can we correct this oversight?