Press Release
National Trust Announces 2006 National Preservation Award Winners
Pittsburgh, Pa. (November 2, 2006) – Today, the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced the 21 winners of its prestigious 2006 National Preservation Awards. The honorees were recognized during an official ceremony at the National Trust’s week-long National Preservation Conference in Pittsburgh, Pa.
The National Trust's 2006 National Preservation Awards illustrate the great diversity of our country and honor the dedication of citizens, organizations, and public and private entities who have worked to ensure that the best parts of our past are preserved for the future. The preservationists who received awards come from different areas of the country and work and volunteer in an array of professional fields, but they share a common trait: When their history was at stake, these preservationists stepped up to the plate. Their efforts serve not only to protect our nation’s past, but also to ensure that their community’s heritage remains intact for their children and grandchildren to experience.
This year's award winners include the complete restoration of a building badly damaged by the collapse of the Twin Towers during 9/11; two pioneers of the preservation movement who helped to author, pass through Congress and enact the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966; and the restoration of the bus that Rosa Parks rode into history by refusing to relinquish her seat.
"We are very pleased with the quality and breadth of the projects that this year’s award winners represent," said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "In honoring the past, preservationists are providing a better future for generations to come. Through their tireless efforts, these winners ensure that America’s story is told in all its exuberance, drama and diversity – that’s what historic preservation is all about."
The National Preservation Awards are annually bestowed on distinguished individuals, nonprofit organizations, public agencies and corporations whose skill and determination have given new meaning to their communities through preservation of our architectural and cultural heritage. These efforts include citizen attempts to save and maintain important landmarks; companies, craftsmen and volunteers whose work restores the richness of the past; the vision of public officials who support preservation projects and legislation in their communities; and educators and journalists who help Americans understand the value of preservation.
Media interested in learning more about the National Trust's 2006 National Preservation Award winners should contact the National Trust Communications Office at 202-588-6141. Registration is free to the media, as are the Awards Ceremony, field sessions, educational sessions, and special events. For more information and images of the 2006 National Preservation Award winners, visit www.nationaltrust.org/npa2006
The 2006 National Preservation Award Winners:
Louise du Pont Crowninshield Award: Stewart Udall, Santa Fe, N.M., and George B. Hartzog, Jr., McLean, Va. As Secretary of the Interior under Presidents John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, Stewart Udall's embrace of preservation helped to elevate historic preservation on the public agenda, and his leadership was key to passage of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. George Hartzog, Director of the National Park Service from 1964 to 1972, worked closely with Udall to help to pass the NHPA, and also oversaw its implementation, including the appointment of the first state historic preservation officers.
John H. Chafee Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement in Public Policy: Harry K. Schwartz, Bethesda, Md. Harry K. Schwartz is a visionary preservationist whose work on federal and state tax credits has led to the widespread adoption of preservation tax credits—enormously effective tools for preserving and revitalizing our communities—throughout the country. Through his work at the National Trust, the National Park Service, and the Maryland Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Schwartz has been an innovative voice on the front lines of the preservation movement for many years.
National Trust/ACHP Award for Federal Partnerships in Historic Preservation: Amy Biehl High School, Albuquerque, N.M. Albuquerque’s former Post Office and Courthouse building had been a community landmark and symbol of civic pride for almost a century, but by 2001, the government’s needs had outgrown the historic downtown building. Enter Amy Biehl High School, a charter school that—with assistance from the GSA—transformed the building into a thriving high school that has given new life to a place that has always had great meaning for people in Albuquerque.
National Trust/HUD Secretary's Award for Excellence In Historic Preservation: Ryan Companies US, Inc. Minneapolis, Minn. When Sears, Roebuck and Company closed its historic South Minneapolis retail store in 1994, it vacated what had been the commercial center of a struggling inner-city neighborhood. Now, Ryan Companies US, Inc. has transformed the building into the "Midtown Exchange," a thriving mixed-use project with condominiums, affordable housing and a lively marketplace featuring cuisines from around the world.
Trustee Emeritus Award for Excellence in the Stewardship of Historic Sites: Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Pittsburgh, Pa. A strong stewardship effort is vital to the preservation movement, and since it was founded in 1932, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy has been one of the nation's best stewards, protecting thousands of acres of land and gardens. But WPC is perhaps best known for its exemplary stewardship of Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural masterpiece.
Trustees' Award for Organizational Excellence: Colorado Preservation, Inc., Denver, Colo. Since 1984, Colorado Preservation Inc. has been one of the nation's most able and accomplished statewide preservation groups, demonstrating leadership in a range of areas, from advocacy to education to technical assistance. Colorado’s sacred public lands, historic towns and sweeping country ranches are among the treasures that are thriving thanks to the dedicated work of Colorado Preservation, Inc.
Board of Advisors Award: The Henry Ford Museum's Rosa Parks Bus, Dearborn, Mich. On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks, a 42-year-old African American woman boarded a bus in Montgomery, Alabama and ushered in a new era in America's quest for freedom and equality. Although City Bus 2857 was stripped of its seats, neglected and used as a storage shed for three decades, it was purchased at auction in 2001 by The Henry Ford, underwent a multi-year restoration and is now the centerpiece of a permanent exhibit entitled "With Liberty and Justice for All."
The 2006 National Preservation Honor Award Winners:
90 West Street, New York, N.Y. – When the World Trade Center collapsed, tons of debris tumbled down on a lavishly adorned 1907 skyscraper, a handsome, 23-story building designed by famed early 20th century architect Cass Gilbert. With a scorched terra cotta façade and a melted copper roof, the building was thought to be a goner until a top-to-bottom rehabilitation gave New Yorkers something to cheer about—one of the few architectural success stories to come out of Ground Zero.
Amoskeag Millyard, Manchester, NH – Amoskeag was once the largest millworks in the world, stretching for a full mile along the Merrimack River and employing as many as 17,000 workers. It was also the economic heart of the community, so when it closed its doors in 1936, it left a big hole in the community life of Manchester. Now, after decades of neglect and failed redevelopment schemes, Amoskeag is once again a vital center. A staggering four million square feet of former manufacturing space has been transformed into a variety of uses, including an urban business park where 300 firms employ more than 3,000 workers, an educational campus, a non-profit science and technology center, and the acclaimed Millyard Museum.
Cadillac Hotel, Seattle, Wash. – One of the first masonry buildings constructed after the Great Fire of 1889 that destroyed Pioneer Square, Seattle's Cadillac Hotel has been a cherished part of the city's historic district for more than a century. But in the wake of the 2001 Nisqually Earthquake, the High Victorian Italianate hotel became a poster-child for what can happen to an old building when the earth moves. Although the crumbling building was threatened with demolition, it was instead saved and given new life by a public-private partnership that will ensure the survival of this beloved Gold Rush-era landmark.
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa. – When it outgrew its home in the 1897 Allegheny Post Office, Pittsburgh’s acclaimed Children's Museum decided to expand into the former Buhl Planetarium, built in 1939. A competition was held for a new building that would link the historic structures – a major challenge because of their different architectural styles. The winning design is a perfect complement, a sleek box faced with a shimmering translucent screen that respects – but does not mimic – its older neighbors.
First Security Bank, Salt Lake City, Utah – Completed in 1955, First Security Bank was the first addition to Salt Lake City's downtown skyline in 30 years and Utah's first major modern office building. But by 2002, the sleek steel and glass tower was up for sale and vulnerable to insensitive alteration or even demolition. Happily, the owner instead undertook a renovation designed to keep the building's mid-century look intact, and, in so doing, supported the ongoing revitalization of downtown Salt Lake City.>
Hawaii Theatre Center, Honolulu, Hawaii – When it opened in 1922, the Hawaii Theatre –with its splendid Neo-Classic design – was a showstopper in Honolulu's bustling Chinatown neighborhood. But when the city’s entertainment center shifted to Waikiki Beach, the theatre once known as the "Pride of the Pacific," closed and languished for decades until preservation-minded developers restored the jewel and brought life back to a once-struggling neighborhood.
Mather Tower, Chicago, Ill. – Completed in 1928, the 41-story Mather Tower is Chicago's most slender and distinctive skyscraper, with its octagonal-shaped, telescoping "needle" tower and Gothic-inspired cream colored ornament. Although the building had fallen into considerable disrepair by the late 1990s, today Mather Tower is perfectly restored and a vibrant icon on the Windy City skyline.
North Dakota State University School of Visual Arts & Architecture, Fargo, N.D. – Built in 1903 as an agricultural machinery warehouse, the building that was to become the new home of NDSU's School of Visual Arts & Architecture was days away from an appointment with the wrecking ball. Thanks to alumnus Doug Burgum and the foresight of NDSU, the building has been gloriously restored and is now the centerpiece of a revitalized downtown neighborhood.
Save-a-Landmark Program by Hampton Hotels – To foster recognition of the historic – and sometimes quirky – places that enliven the American road, Hampton Hotels created its innovative Save-a-Landmark program. Dedicated to restoring cultural and historic roadside attractions, Hampton Hotels has contributed $2 million toward the preservation of 26 landmarks in 23 states in the last six years.
Socorro Mission, El Paso, Tex. – One of the most significant historic sites in the Southwest, the adobe and stucco church—with its finely decorated beams and distinctive bell tower—dates from 1843 and stands on the site of a 17th century mission. When decades of sun, rain and misguided maintenance left the church with rotting timbers, a leaking roof and walls that threatened to topple, a community of volunteers came together to restore the mission to its former glory.
Southwest School of Art and Craft, San Antonio, Tex. – In 1971 the long-vacant campus of the Ursuline Academy—the first school for girls in San Antonio—was purchased by the San Antonio Conservation Society to prevent its demolition. A few years later, the newly established Southwest School of Art & Craft took over the site. In the ensuing decades, the dedicated women who founded the school have given generously of their own resources, and developed innovative fundraising strategies to help support the school. Now, the complex that once faced the wrecking-ball is a dynamic center for arts education and community events that attracts more than 200,000 people annually. Vision and determination have preserved an historic treasure in one of America’s most historic cities.
Trinity Church, Boston, Mass. – Cited as one of America's 10 most important architectural creations, the 1877 granite and brownstone Copley Square landmark represents the work of a who's who of 19th century masters, including architect H.H. Richardson and muralist John LaFarge. As with many older buildings, Trinity Church was in need of restoration, and this $55 million project preserved spectacular interior murals and added a new visitor center to the church’s undercroft to accommodate 100,000 annual visitors.
Vulcan Park, Birmingham, Ala. – Vulcan Park's prized icon, a 56-foot statue of the Roman god of the forge created for the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair that had resided in the park that bears his name since the 1930s, had seen better days. Cracking and deteriorated, the statue had become a safety hazard until local citizens rallied to save their hometown colossus by giving him a complete makeover and, in a miracle of modern engineering, re-installing Vulcan on his 124-foot tower.
Wentworth by the Sea Hotel & Spa, New Castle, N.H. – Built in 1874 on a rocky bluff and affectionately called the "Grand Dame of the Sea," the Wentworth Hotel was famous in its heyday for its lavish accoutrements, including steam powered elevators and luxurious water closets. After the hotel closed in the 1980s, it was threatened with demolition and sat deteriorating until a community group came together to spearhead a spectacular, historically authentic restoration so that Wentworth by the Sea could once again welcome a new generation of guests.