Reminder: Submit Your Preservation Awards Nominations!

Posted on by cambridgehistoricalcommission

Each year, the Cambridge Historical Commission honors projects that have made outstanding contributions to the preservation of the city’s historic character and built environment. The 2026 Preservation Awards will recognize individuals and organizations for projects completed within the last year. The awards will be announced and presented at a ceremony in late May or early June 2026.

2025 Preservation Award winner Edward & Julia Joyce three-family, 95 Fayerweather Street (1910). In 1991, this building was redeveloped by Homeowner’s Rehab as limited equity condos for moderate-income homeowners. After a few decades the building began to deteriorate. Just-A-Start came in with a home improvement program and utilized Community Preservation Act funds from the Cambridge Historical Commission’s grant program as well as their own assistance to redevelop and restore this house.

Seven project categories are eligible for Preservation Awards: restoration, rehabilitation, adaptive use, neighborhood conservation, landscape preservation, archaeology, and education. The award-winning projects will be selected based on the following:

  • historical and architectural significance of the preserved property;
  • exceptional quality of the project;
  • extent to which the project contributed to the preservation of the property; and
  • impact of the project on the preservation of the city’s historic resources.
2025 Preservation Award winner First Baptist Church, now Central Square Church, 5 Magazine Street (1881). For many years the building suffered from an inability to address deferred maintenance issues. For this project, masonry was restored, clock faces were repaired, and the bell deck has been sealed and reroofed. Now the church continues to be a landmark of Central Square.
Before and after images of Central Square Church roof repairs
Before and after images of Central Square Church masonry repairs

To nominate a project, including your own, please submit a completed nomination form and supporting documentation by Noon on Friday, March 13, 2026 to:

Cambridge Historical Commission
831 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139

Or electronically to: histcomm@cambridgema.gov

All submitted materials become the property of the Cambridge Historical Commission and will not be returned.

For more information on the Cambridge Preservation Awards, or if you have questions regarding the nomination form, please contact the Commission.

Telephone: 617 349 4683 | Email: histcomm@cambridgema.gov

URL:  https://www.cambridgema.gov/historic/aboutchc/preservationawards

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