Illinois, Indiana Agencies Get National Preservation Honors

Illinois and Indiana preservation agencies came up big in the recent National Preservation Awards.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation presented the National Trust Trustees' Award for Organizational Excellence to the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois in Chicago. In addition, the Louise du Pont Crowninshield Award was given to J. Reid Williamson Jr., executive director of the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana.

Founded in 1971 in response to the threatened demolition of a premier landmark - the old Chicago Stock Exchange Building - the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois began as an organization whose mission is to save significant buildings of Chicago.

Today, the landmarks council is a savvy organization whose programs and influence extend throughout the state, the NTHP said.

Serving 10 years as the first executive director of Historic Savannah Foundation and 31 years as president of Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, Williamson transformed both organizations into two of America's greatest preservation success stories, the NTHP said.

A National Preservation Honor Award was given to the Yale Building in Chicago.

The Yale Building, in the city's Englewood neighborhood on the South Side, was once feared lost. But today, it is an important anchor and catalyst for further revitalization in the surrounding community thanks to the 2003 $9.5 million rehabilitation of the building, which now provides 69 units of affordable senior housing.

Built in 1892, this seven-story Romanesque-style brick and limestone structure was designed by distinguished architect John Long. In a neighborhood of two-story wood-frame houses, the Yale is one of the very few pre-1900 high-rise buildings constructed outside of downtown Chicago.

The developer and general contractor was Yale Building LP, and the architect was Chicago-based K2 Architects.

There were 22 national award winners in total, the NTHP said.

32 Projects Get AIA Chicago Honors

Thirty-two projects have been honored with the Distinguished Building Award from the American Institute of Architects/AIA Chicago.

Twenty are in Illinois, three in Wisconsin, one in Indiana, five in other parts of the United States and three in Germany.

Projects competed in three categories: building, interior and divine detail, a category that considers a specific architectural element. The honors broke into 11 honor awards, 17 citations of merit and four special recognition awards.

Fourteen projects and architects were honored with Distinguished Building Awards: