Minneapolis Preservation Awards Announced

A fence restoration project at Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery in Minneapolis has received a preservation award from the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission.

Eight building projects and one preservation leader have received Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Awards.

Preserve Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission and the Minneapolis chapter of the American Institute of Architects, in recognition of projects and people that “celebrate and enhance the heritage and historic character of Minneapolis”, presented the annual awards.

Winners are:

• Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery: Fence Restoration — which exemplifies a landscape being returned to its original character in a manner respectful of the property’s historic past. Project Team: Friends of the Cemetery, City of Minneapolis, Miller Dunwiddie, Terra General Contractor, Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office.
• Pence Automobile Building: The project represents successful rehabilitation that maintains the majority of the original exterior character. Project Team: Turnstone 800 Partners LLC, Diversified Construction, and Hess, Roise and Company.
• Hangar, Ackerman Hall is an adaptively reused historic building transformed and reinvented to incorporate both new and old elements in a way that that is respectful of, but different from, the form of the past. Project Team: Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, University Capital Planning and Project Management, University Capital Planning and Architecture, BWBR Architects, M. A. Mortenson, Hess, Roise and Company, and Sebesta Blomberg.
• Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church (phased) — The renovation illustrates collaborative efforts to be respectful to the property’s historic past while upgrading the structure to fit the congregation’s current needs. Project Team: Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Miller Dunwiddie Architecture, Inc., Meyer Borgman Johnson, Michaud Cooley Erickson, McGough Construction, SRF Consulting Group, American Engineering Testing, C. E. Coulter & Associates, Inc., Roof Spec Inc., Conrad Schmidt Studios, and Gaytee Stained Glass.
• Sunroom restoration at 2720 Ewing Ave. S.  This project epitomizes the hard work and serious efforts one homeowner took on to responsibly restore and rehabilitate an older single-family home. Project Team: The Elliott Family and Charlie Gibson.
• Gale Mansion’s addition is an example of adapting a historic building to fit modern needs. A handicapped-accessible elevator was installed between the original structure and a modern addition in such a way to blend in and not call attention to it. Project Team: American Association of University Women – Minneapolis Branch, MacDonald & Mack Architects, and Watson Forsberg Construction.
• The Old Highland Neighborhood Association in Near North, with funding made possible by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, worked with residents to collect neighborhood history and to collaboratively document 96 neighborhood properties for an updated and expanded self-guided Walking Tour Guide of significant properties in this neighborhood. Project Team: Old Highland Neighborhood Association, Angie Nelson, Historic Old Highland Steering Committee, State Historic Preservation Office, City of Minneapolis Department of Community Planning & Economic Development — HPC team, Jeff Matson and Kelly Muellman at Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, Neighborhood Housing Services, Dr. Jack Byers, and Tammy Lindberg.
• Preservation protection and rehabilitation efforts for the 2008 Pillsbury Avenue South home by the local preservation community, Whittier neighborhood, Minneapolis Department of Community Planning and Economic Development, and Bell Mortgage is acknowledged. Project Team: Bell Mortgage, Minneapolis Community Planning and Economic Development, Whittier Alliance, the greater Minneapolis community, and Preservation Alliance of Minnesota.
• Jim Litsheim, who has displayed leadership, courage, and dedication to heritage preservation in Minneapolis and at the University of Minnesota over the course of his career, received the Steve Murray Award, considered the top individual honor for preservation in Minneapolis.