2021 Preservation Award Nominations are Open

2021 Preservation Achievement Awards

Nominations are now open.

Download the 2021 Nominations Packet

Each year the Boston Preservation Alliance presents the Preservation Achievement Awards to recognize a group of exemplary historic preservation projects or activities in Boston. The Alliance honors outstanding preservation projects of all scales and representing all time periods, including the 20th century. Projects that will be considered for award recognition include but are not limited to:

Rehabilitation or restoration that preserves Boston’s architectural or cultural heritage
Adaptive reuse of existing historic resources
New construction in harmony with Boston’s built environment
Parks, landscapes, and natural areas that have been preserved or restored
Exterior lighting, accessibility, and landscape design highlighting historic resources
Innovative energy efficiency and/or climate preparedness integration into historic fabric
Educational efforts that enhance the public’s understanding and appreciation of Boston’s historic built environment

The Alliance’s Award Selection Committee selects winners based on criteria such as:

Impact on a neighborhood’s character, public realm, and revitalization
Quality of execution and materials
Creative or innovative solutions to preservation challenges
Contribution to the public’s understanding and awareness of historic resources, preservation, and the historic character of Boston

See Previous Award Winners

Completed nominations are due Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Materials and questions should be directed to:

Alison Frazee, Assistant Director
afrazee@bostonpreservation.org

Boston Preservation Alliance
PO Box 256140
Dorchester, MA 02125

Submission Guidelines

To be considered, all nominations must include the following additional materials:

Please provide the information requested in the attached spreadsheet as it should appear on awards materials. Please include ALL project team members, adding rows as needed. If your project is selected for an award, the Alliance would like to congratulate all project team members and invite them to participate in the recognition. The inclusion of project team members in promotional materials is at the discretion of the Boston Preservation Alliance.
Print-ready color images of at least a 300 dpi resolution. Images can be mailed to our PO Box on a CD or flash drive or shared via DropBox or similar file-sharing platform. Images must be JPG or PNG files.
Images must show all facades of the building or structure, as applicable, or all angles of the site. Please provide as many images as possible and divide into “Before” and “After” sections.
For adaptive reuse/rehabilitation/restoration projects, before and after images are necessary to demonstrate the quality of the project.
Photographer credits and/or copyright permissions for each photograph.

The Fine Print

Submissions are due no later than March 31, 2021
No application fee is required.
Nominations may be submitted via hard copy mailed to our PO Box or electronically (preferred).
Submissions are limited to properties and programs within the City of Boston. Projects outside the city limits of Boston will not be considered.
Projects must have been completed between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020.
All photo and digital image submissions become the property of the Boston Preservation Alliance for use in print or digital form to promote this Awards event and/or any future Alliance activities.
Please note that we present the awards to project/property owners. Project team members are also recognized as appropriate and to the greatest extent possible at the discretion of the Boston Preservation Alliance.

Winner Expectations

The Boston Preservation Alliance is proud to partner with award recipients to promote the best of historic preservation in Boston. The owner/developers and project team members of winning projects are expected to:
Partner in promotion of the award through social media and other channels
Aid in acquiring additional photographs, materials, and information about the project as needed
Participate in the filming/recording of interviews as needed to be used at the Awards Ceremony and in promotional materials at the Alliance’s discretion
Attend the Awards Ceremony in October, date/location TBD

Please respond with as much detail as possible to all three of the following:

What is the history or significance of the structure or site?
Please describe any unique strategies used or challenges that were overcome in order to complete the project.
Please describe why you are nominating this project for a preservation award. Explain why this project is distinctive and how it positively contributes to the City of Boston.