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In space of only a few years, local nonprofit Preservation Austin has done a stellar job of refreshing and reinventing what was formally known as the Heritage Society of Austin. While continuing its work as an effective advocate for preserving structures important in local history, the organization expanded to help efforts to recognize the city’s deep and varied cultural history as well.
One thing that hasn’t changed is the annual presentation of its Preservation Merit Awards. Established in 1960, the juried annual program recognizes recent projects that have helped preserve Austin's architectural, cultural, and environmental heritage in outstanding and visionary ways.
This year's nine recipients have been named some the best preservation projects from the past two years. They include South Austin's Green Pastures, East Austin's Downs Field, B'Nai Abraham Synagogue on the Dell Jewish Community Campus, and the Texas State Capitol.
Recipients will be honored at the Preservation Merit Awards Celebration at the Driskill Hotel on Nov. 3. Below are examples of the work of the 2017 recipients.
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↑ Darnall House (1941)—Pemberton Heights
Recipient: Tadd and Holly Lanham
Preservation Award for Rehabilitation
Architect: Atlantis Architects
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↑ Green Pastures (1895)—Bouldin Creek
Recipient: Greg Porter
Preservation Award for Rehabilitation
Architect: Clayton & Little Architects
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↑ Megabus (1941)—Downtown
Recipient: Bob Woody
Preservation Award for Rehabilitation
Architect: Derrington Building Studio
↑ Owings-Allen-Miller House (1891)—East Cesar Chavez
Recipient: Keikhosrow and Homa Kavoussi
Preservation Award for Rehabilitation
Architect: Holland Architectural
↑ Texas State Capitol Exterior Preservation Project (1888)
Recipient: State Preservation Board
Preservation Austin for Restoration and Special Recognition Award for Craftsmanship
Architect: Kevin Koch, State Preservation Board
↑ Thorne House (1954)—Highland Park West/Balcones
Recipient: David and Tracey Hime
Preservation Award for Rehabilitation and Addition
Architect: Clayton & Little Architects
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↑ Young House (1935)—Chestnut
Recipient: Erica and David Heroy
Preservation Award for Addition
Architect: Erica Keast Heroy, Architect
↑ Shalom Austin for Stewardship of B'Nai Abraham Brenham Historic Synagogue
↑ Six Square: Austin’s Black Cultural District, with the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department, City of Austin Public Works Department, Huston Tillotson University, and the Rosewood Neighborhood Contact Team for Stewardship of Downs Field