Call for Nominations: 2020 Preservation at Its Best Awards
Each year, Preservation Iowa seeks to honor individuals, organizations, projects, and programs whose work demonstrates a commitment to excellence in historic preservation. In doing so, we hope to inspire others to take action to preserve, protect, and promote historic resources.
Project awards will be presented at the 2020 Preserve Iowa Summit, to be held in virtually Thursday, June 4, (more event details to come). Winning projects will receive awards from Preservation Iowa and will be highlighted on the Preservation Iowa website and Facebook pages with press releases to go out to each winning nominee’s community.
ELIGIBILITY
Nominated projects must have been completed within the geographic boundaries of Iowa and completed within a time frame extending from January 1, 2018 and April 25, 2020. Incomplete projects will not be considered. Nominations can be made by/for individual owners, corporation, development groups, or organizations. Property owner(s) must be notified, before submission of property/project, so they can be notified of the nomination status.
CATEGORIES
Adaptive Use – Conversion of a historic structure for a new or compatible use while retaining its architectural integrity. This category could include a mixed use project.
Commercial (Small and Large) – Rehabilitation/restoration of a historic commercial structure. Commercial awards are given for both small structure (under 5,000 total square feet) and large structure (over 5,000 total square feet). This category could include a mixed use project.
Community Effort – A community’s concerted effort to save a historic structure, district or cultural resource. (Nominating groups could include, but are not limited to, downtown organizations, historic preservation commissions, city/county governments, development groups, neighborhood associations, preservation groups, etc.)
Preservationist of the Year Award – Individual or group that has championed historic preservation planning, policy or activities in Iowa.
Public Structure – Rehabilitation/restoration of a publicly/government owned structure.
Residential (Personal/Multi-Family) – Rehabilitation/restoration and continued use of a residential structure. Residential awards may be considered for single family homes as well as multiple family structures.
Rural Preservation – Preservation or restoration of Iowa rural landscape, heritage or built environment.
Sustainability in Preservation – Incorporation of sustainable practices into the rehabilitation/restoration of a historic structure. Project does not need to be LEED certified to be considered for award but nomination does need to demonstrate sustainable practices used in project. Award can be made to any typology of building project.
Special Projects – Films, Books, Websites, Podcasts, Plays, etc. that tell Iowa’s stories and promote the preservation of Iowa’s historic resources.
Lit dome and main atrium at the Prairie Style Woodbury County Courthouse
JUDGING
Preservation Iowa invites a jury of preservation experts to review nominations for the Preservation at Its Best Awards. This panel of judges will also place nominations in their respective categories to give each project its highest scoring potential.
Projects will be judged on degree of historic preservation excellence, community impact, quality of work completed and thoroughness of the nomination submitted. Honorable mentions or multiple awards may be given if decided upon by the panel of judges.
ENTRY GUIDELINES
One (1) nomination packet should be submitted for jurors’ review, and should include:
- Completed nomination form: A typed narrative, no longer than 750 words, describing the project. The narrative should clearly address each of the following:
- The beginning and ending date of the project.
- Description of before condition and historic significance of the building. Include building’s square footage and building construction date
- Description of work completed.
- Project challenges and creative solutions.
- The project’s long range impact on structure and the neighborhood/community.
- Accomplishments or contributions (if individual or organizational award)
- Description of project funding.
- Other supporting information.
- If the nomination is for an individual please include a short biography.
INCLUDE at least 4 and no more than 8 photographs documenting the project. (Including before and after images) Images may be submitted as:
- High resolution digital images are preferred (.jpg or .tiff formats preferred). Digital images can be submitted by email.
- Where necessary please include photo credits.
NOMINATION FEE
There are no nomination fees.
SUBMISSION
One (1) copy of the nomination packet described above should be submitted via email. Digital images and nominations may be emailed to pib@preservationiowa.org. For larger files, we recommend sending them to the Preservation Iowa drop box account. Any additional questions may be directed to Bruce Perry at BruceLPerry@gmail.com (515) 979-5620.
EMAIL DEADLINE: Saturday May 1, 2020
Submitted materials will not be returned. Submission to the Preservation at Its Best Awards provides Preservation Iowa permission to use materials in organization promotional materials.
