Nominations for Preservation
at Its Best Awards
The Preservation at Its Best Awards celebrate exceptional achievements in historic preservation across Iowa. Each year, Preservation Iowa recognizes individuals, organizations, projects, and communities whose work demonstrates outstanding commitment to historic preservation. By honoring these achievements, the organization aims to inspire others to take meaningful action to protect, restore, and promote Iowa’s historic resources, fostering a broader culture of preservation throughout the state.
Award-winning preservation projects often do more than celebrate preserved historic buildings – they demonstrate how these resources can be thoughtfully repurposed and reintegrated into their communities. By revitalizing housing, supporting local businesses, and drawing people back to downtowns and neighborhoods, these projects boost local economies while fostering community pride. They also inspire further preservation efforts, ensuring that Iowa’s rich heritage remains a vibrant and accessible part of everyday life.
Nominations for Preservation at Its Best awards are typically solicited during the winter months, with submissions due in early April. Award recipients are announced in June, typically as part of the statewide Preserve Iowa Summit, providing a high-profile platform to recognize exemplary preservation work and inspire others to engage in preservation efforts.
By submitting a nomination, you help shine a spotlight on important preservation work in Iowa, celebrating the dedication, creativity, and impact of those who protect and revitalize the state’s historic resources.
Award Categories
Nominations for the Preservation at Its Best Awards are accepted across a range of categories that reflect the diverse ways Iowa’s historic resources are preserved and celebrated. From rehabilitation to rural preservation, sustainability, and community-driven efforts, each category recognizes projects, individuals, or organizations that demonstrate excellence, creativity, and a lasting impact on Iowa’s architectural and cultural heritage. These categories ensure that all forms of preservation work – whether a restored home, a revitalized downtown building, a key individual, a historic preservation commission, or a storytelling project that promotes Iowa’s history – receive the recognition that they deserve.
Residential Rehabilitation (Single/Multi-Family) – Rehabilitation and continued use of single-family homes as well as multi-family residences.
Commercial Rehabilitation (Small and Large) – Rehabilitation of a historic commercial building. Nominations accepted in two categories: small (under 5,000 total sq) and large (5,000 or more total sq).
Adaptive Reuse – Conversion of a historic structure for a new or compatible use while retaining its architectural integrity. This category includes any mixed-use project.
Public/Non-Profit Rehabilitation – Rehabilitation of a publicly/government/non-profit owned building.
Maurice Losey Sacred Place – Rehabilitation/restoration/reuse of a sacred site, ground, space, place of religious assembly, such as a church, synagogue, mosque, or other related property.
Rural Preservation – Preservation, restoration, or rehabilitation of the Iowa rural landscape, heritage, or built environment.
Sustainability in Preservation – Incorporation of sustainable practices into the rehabilitation of a historic building. The project does not need to be LEED certified, but should demonstrate how it illustrates sustainable practices.
Special Projects – Films, Books, Websites, Podcasts, Plays, etc. that tell Iowa’s stories and promote the preservation of Iowa’s historic resources.
Community Effort Award – A community’s concerted effort to preserve, protect, and/or promote a historic building, structure, district, site, or cultural resource.
Martha Hayes Preservationist of the Year Award – Individual or group that has championed historic preservation planning, policy, or activities in Iowa.
Paula Mohr Certified Local Government of the Year Award – Honors invaluable contributions by an individual or organization to Iowa’s CLG Program and to historic preservation locally, statewide, regionally, and nationally.
Submit a Nomination!
Your nomination helps highlight and celebrate the remarkable preservation efforts happening across Iowa. By recognizing these projects, individuals, and organizations, you not only honor their dedication but also inspire others to take action to protect and revitalize our state’s historic resources. Be part of the movement to preserve Iowa’s heritage – submit a nomination and make a difference!
Nominations are accepted annually throughout winter for projects completed within the geographic boundaries of Iowa and completed within a time frame extending from January of the previous year to completion by April 1 of the current year. Incomplete projects will not be considered. Nominations can be made by individual owners, corporations, development groups, or organizations for projects in any community or rural area in Iowa. Self-nominations are accepted and encouraged – don’t be shy about your own preservation efforts! Property owner information must be included in the nomination so that they can be notified of any award.
To submit a nomination to the Preservation at Its Best program, please email the completed Nomination Form, along with digital images, letters of support, and any other relevant materials, to info@preservationiowa.org. Please use “Preservation at Its Best Nomination” in the email subject line. Nomination components may also be sent using a file transfer service, such as Google Drive or Dropbox. If using Google Drive, ensure that permissions are set to allow anyone with the link to download prior to sending.
Nomination Packet must include the following three parts
A maximum of 20 photos, including both before and after images for the rehabilitation project
There is no nomination fee
Submissions are accepted annually throughout winter, with a deadline in early April each year. Late submissions are accepted throughout April based on the number of nominations and distribution throughout the state.
Please see our Facebook page for recent announcements about nominations, deadlines, and award recipients.
For additional information, please contact Preservation Iowa.
Submission to Preservation at its Best program provides Preservation Iowa with permission to use materials in organization’s promotional materials.