News

The Summit County Historical Society of Akron, Ohio
and Progress Through Preservation

2024 Architectural Heritage Awards

Call For Nominations - Download Fillable PDF by clicking here or go to https://bit.ly/24AHANominations 

The Summit County Historical Society of Akron, Ohio (SCHS) and Progress Through Preservation (PTP) invite you to submit nominations that will recognize projects, individuals, and organizations that celebrate and enhance the architectural importance and historic character of Akron and greater Summit County.

***********Please turn in nominations by March 15, 2024***********

The 2024 Architectural Heritage Awards will be presented on May 19th at Trailhead Event Space. Awards are based on nomination materials and site visits by a jury with backgrounds in historic preservation and architecture. Nominations for consideration must have been completed within the last five (5) years except for the newly added category of Barn Historic Restoration or Rehabilitation Project.

Nominations are not specific to these categories but will provide you with category examples:

Historic Restoration or Rehabilitation Project: Projects for nomination

are those where an existing property, building, or landscape was returned to its original character in a sensitive manner that is respectful to the property’s historic past. Projects in this category will be judged based on careful attention to design, craftsmanship, architecture, as well as materials used. The impact of the project on the surrounding community will also be considered.

Adaptive Reuse Project: Projects for nomination are those where an existing historic building, place, or landscape was transformed to incorporate both new and old elements in a respectful and sensitive manner. Projects in this category will be judged based on careful attention to design, craftsmanship, architecture, as well as materials used. The impact of the project on the surrounding community will also be considered.

New Addition to an Historic Building: Projects for nomination are those where an addition was made to an existing property, building, or landscape in a manner that is respectful to the property’s historic past. Projects in this category will be judged based on careful attention to design, craftsmanship, architecture, as well as materials used. The impact of the project on the surrounding community will also be considered.

Community Education and Advocacy: Projects for nomination are those that have made an overall contribution to preservation in Akron or greater Summit County beyond the physical construction of a building or landscape. This category is to recognize organizations that have a preservation related education and outreach component. Projects will be judged based on relevance of the work to current and emerging preservation issues and the impact of this work on neighborhoods and communities.

The Recent Past Award: Projects for nomination are those that focus on restoration efforts of properties, buildings, or landscapes from the second half of the twentieth century. This award is designed to promote education and awareness of materials, design techniques, and planning principles of the Modern movement and cultural resources of the past fifty years. Projects in this category will be judged based on careful attention to design, craftsmanship, architecture, as well as materials used. The impact of the project on the surrounding community will also be considered.

Single Family Residential Award: This category is intended to recognize and celebrate the hard work of any individual or team who has made a positive contribution to preserving, restoring or rehabilitating an historic (50 years old or older) single family home anywhere within Summit County. Projects in this category will be judged based on careful attention to design, craftsmanship, architecture, as well as materials used. The impact of the project on the surrounding community will also be considered.

Barn Historic Restoration or Rehabilitation Project: This category is intended to recognize and celebrate the hard work of any individual or team who has made a positive contribution to preserving, restoring or rehabilitating an historic (50 years old or older) barn within Summit County. The addition of this category is a direct result of the work of Dr. Robert “Bob” Kroeger in documenting barns through stories and paintings in his collaboration with Summit County Historical Society locally and numerous agencies across the state preserving agricultural architecture history.

Projects must demonstrate adherence to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards.

Nomination Form Instructions:

• All projects for nomination must be located within Summit County;
• To nominate a project for an award, send the nomination form and documentary information including photographs (before & after if possible) to address below;
• If you wish to have supporting materials returned, please submit a self-addressed stamped envelope with the nomination application.
• Mail or hand deliver nomination forms and required materials to the following:

Architectural Heritage Awards
The Summit County Historical Society of Akron, OH
Attn: Leianne Neff Heppner
550 Copley Road
Akron, OH 44320

• Or email documents to Leianne@summithistory.org with a subject line of Architectural Heritage Award Nomination. Large files may be sent via WeTransfer.com (a free service)
• ** Please turn in nominations by March 15, 2024**