Preservation Alliance Announces 2022 Award Winners

Philadelphia (May 2022) – The Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia is pleased to announce the winners of the 2022 Preservation Achievement Awards, including individuals, organizations, structures, and spaces that contribute to the Philadelphia region’s unique character.

After two years of virtual celebrations, the Awards will be presented in person on the evening of June 8^th from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, returning to the VIE entertainment venue at 600 N. Broad Street.

“The pandemic forced us to explore new ways of sharing preservation success stories,” said Paul Steinke, Alliance Executive Director. “We are delighted to honor these big projects in person again for the first time in three years.”

Preservation Alliance Achievement Awards will be presented in two categories: Grand Jury Awards for historic building projects that have been restored or renovated in an exemplary way; and Special Recognition Awards for people and organizations that champion preservation.

The most prestigious Special Recognition honor is the James Biddle Award for lifetime achievement, which has been presented each year since 1994.

This year’s James Biddle Award goes to A. Robert Jaeger, the president of the nationally-prominent Partners for Sacred Places. “Bob co-founded Partners for Sacred Places thirty-three years ago, and the organization remains the most impactful non-sectarian, nonprofit organization dedicated to the stewardship and active community use of older, religious buildings across America,” said Steinke.

In addition to the Biddle, Special Recognition Awards will be presented to the Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery for exceptional stewardship of the National Historic Landmark;Woodmere Art Museum for saving Saint Michael’s mansion in Chestnut Hill from demolition; and the Strawberry Mansion Community Development Corporation for its continued efforts to adapt the home of jazz great John Coltrane into a cultural arts center, among others.

The Young Friends of the Preservation Alliance Award will go to Tacony Community Development Corporation for its success in connecting preservation with commercial corridor reinvestment. 

See the complete list here. The Special Recognition Award winners are selected by a panel of esteemed preservationists from the Philadelphia region.

Twenty-four exemplary projects will be honored this year, including the rebirth of historic industrial buildings into apartments: Harbison’s Dairy, Gotham Silk Hosiery Factory, J-Centrel, Autograph Apartments, Market Square Apartments, and 1000 S. Saint Bernard Street in West Philadelphia.

The towering Philadelphia Inquirer Building is among the most prominent of the Grand Jury Award winners. Now officially the Philadelphia Public Services Building and headquarters for the Police Department, the exterior of the Beaux Arts classic has been restored to its pristine 1924 condition. Layers of paint were removed and carbon staining cleaned off the terra cotta façade of the tower. White paint was removed from the dome atop the cupola. The tower clocks are now fully functional, chime on the hour, and are illuminated at night.

The Grand Jury Award winners were selected by a Boston-based panel of preservation architects and historians.

Also at the awards event, The American Institute of Architects, Philadelphia Chapter will present the Landmark Building Award to the former Police Administration Building, known as the Roundhouse. Despite international acclaim for its innovative design, the future of the mid-century modern building is in peril. As the police department relocated to the Philadelphia Public Services Building earlier this year, the City initiated a community engagement process to help determine the future of the Roundhouse.

The Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia actively promotes the appreciation, protection, and revitalization of the Philadelphia region’s historic buildings, communities, and landscapes. A 501c3 non-profit membership organization, the Alliance leads in setting the agenda for preservation issues of regional importance and advocates strong public preservation policies. It was formed in 1996 from the merger of the Philadelphia Historic Preservation Corporation (1979), a nonprofit corporation formed to guide investment dollars into historic renovation projects through tax and other financial incentives; and the Preservation Coalition of Greater Philadelphia (1982), dedicated to preservation advocacy. Visit www.preservationalliance.com.