Austin’s best preservation projects named

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.

Leonid Furmansky

↑ Darnall House (1941)—Pemberton Heights

Recipient: Tadd and Holly Lanham

Preservation Award for Rehabilitation

Architect: Atlantis Architects

Nick SImonite courtesy of Preservation Austin

↑ Green Pastures (1895)—Bouldin Creek

Recipient: Greg Porter

Preservation Award for Rehabilitation

Architect: Clayton & Little Architects

Chase Daniel

↑ Megabus (1941)—Downtown

Recipient: Bob Woody

Preservation Award for Rehabilitation

Architect: Derrington Building Studio

Lindsey Derrington, Preservation Austin

↑ Owings-Allen-Miller House (1891)—East Cesar Chavez

Recipient: Keikhosrow and Homa Kavoussi

Preservation Award for Rehabilitation

Architect: Holland Architectural

State Preservation Board

↑ 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

Nick Simonite

↑ Thorne House (1954)—Highland Park West/Balcones

Recipient: David and Tracey Hime

Preservation Award for Rehabilitation and Addition

Architect: Clayton & Little Architects

Casey Woods

↑ Young House (1935)—Chestnut

Recipient: Erica and David Heroy

Preservation Award for Addition

Architect: Erica Keast Heroy, Architect

Myles Shaftel

↑ Shalom Austin for Stewardship of B'Nai Abraham Brenham Historic Synagogue

Lindsey Derrington, Preservation Austin

↑ 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