Historic Columbia opens process for annual Preservation Awards

Historic Columbia is now accepting nominations for its 2021 Preservation Awards. All nominations are due by Tuesday, March 2.

Each year Historic Columbia celebrates Preservation Month by recognizing notable examples of preservation, rehabilitation and restoration projects, as well as persons or entities whose contributions have advanced local preservation efforts. To ensure the program remains relevant and captures the nuances in today’s field, minor changes have been made to the award categories this year.  Any questions can be directed to Director of Cultural Resources, John Sherrer at [email protected].

The 2021 Preservation Awards will recognize local projects and leaders that have maintained or added to the historical, architectural and cultural heritage throughout Columbia and Richland County in the following categories:

Preservation, Rehabilitation or Restoration (residential/single family): Awards projects of single-family homes that are treated according to the National Park Service’s definitions of preservation, rehabilitation or restoration.

Preservation, Rehabilitation or Restoration (commercial, institutional, rental or municipal): Awards commercial, institutional, rental or municipal projects that follow the National Park Service’s definitions of preservation, rehabilitation or restoration. Definitions are as follows:

• Preservation – places a high premium on the retention of all historic fabric through conservation, maintenance and repair. It reflects a building’s continuum over time, through successive occupancies, and the respectful changes and alteration that are made.
• Rehabilitation – emphasizes the retention and repair of historic materials, but more latitude is provided for replacement because it is assumed the property is deteriorated prior to work.
• Restoration – focuses on the retention of materials from the most significant time in a property’s history, while permitting the removal of materials from other periods.

Revitalization (any ownership or use): May include renovations to historic properties that are not academically correct or new construction in a historic district that is of exceptional quality or sparks new investment. Recognizes a project or work that makes a special contribution to the community and/or a pioneering investment in historic districts in need of revitalization.

Preservation Leadership: Recognizes an individual, corporation, governmental agency, community or neighborhood association that has significantly contributed to the advancement of historic preservation in Columbia or Richland County.

Nominations should be limited to projects completed within the last five years and located in Columbia and Richland County. Only completed projects will be considered. Nominations are due by Tuesday, March 2. Forms are available at historiccolumbia.org or by emailing John Sherrer, Director of Cultural Resources, at [email protected].

About Historic Columbia

In November 1961, a small group of visionary citizens intent on saving the Ainsley Hall House from demolition officially incorporated as the Historic Columbia Foundation. Over the next six decades the organization, which was founded on the premise of preservation and education, would assume the stewardship of seven historic properties in Richland County. Today, the organization serves as a model for local preservation efforts and interpretation of local history. Visit historiccolumbia.org or find us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.