Tag: Preservation Awards

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

2026 Preservation Awards: Call for 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 St. Augustine’s African Orthodox Church, 137 Allston Street (1886). Using Community Preservation Act funds paired with fundraising efforts, the congregation was able to secure a beautiful restoration of this important building, allowing this church to take on a new and vibrant life in Cambridgeport.

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 5-7 Irving Terrace (1888). Five condominium owners enthusiastically restored original clapboards, shingles, and woodwork, bringing the building back to like-new condition.

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

2024-25 Preservation Awards Event

Posted on by cambridgehistoricalcommission

Save the date! It’s time for our annual Preservation Awards.

Each year, the Cambridge Historical Commission honors projects and individuals that have made outstanding contributions to protect the city’s historic character and built environment. The 2024-25 Preservation Awards will recognize projects completed between January and December 2024.

This year, the awards ceremony takes place both in person and on Zoom on Thursday, June 12th. The in-person reception will be held in the City Hall Sullivan Chamber at 795 Massachusetts Ave in Central Square, Cambridge. Light refreshments will be served beginning at 5:30pm followed by an engaging presentation showcasing each project with an introduction of project principals. This event is free and open to the public.

Please RSVP for the in-person event via email to our Assistant Director Kit Rawlins at krawlins[at]cambridgema.gov. If you would like to watch the program on Zoom, register here: https://tinyurl.com/CHCAwards2025. We hope to see you there!

For questions, call our office at 617.349.4683 or email histcomm[at]cambridgema.gov

2025 Preservation Awards: Call for 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 2025 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 2025.

Above: 2024 Preservation Award-winning project 15 Inman Street, an historic 19th Century building located in Mid-Cambridge, near Central Square. The building was first restored and renovated by CHA to house four affordable units in 1988. In recent years, CHA began planning for restoration efforts to bring back its look and character, while ensuring that this important community asset is available for families as a comfortable, unique, affordable and desirable place to call home for decades to come. Roof replacement at the building was completed in 2023. This was followed by the window and siding replacement.

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.

To nominate a project, including your own, please submit a completed nomination form and supporting documentation by Noon on Friday, March 14, 2025 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

Event Alert: 2023-24 Preservation Awards

Posted on by cambridgehistoricalcommission

It’s time for our annual Preservation Awards!

Each year, the Cambridge Historical Commission honors projects and individuals that have made outstanding contributions to protect the city’s historic character and built environment. The 2023-24 Preservation Awards will recognize both buildings and individuals for projects completed between January and December 2023.

This year, the in-person reception will be hosted by awardee, Middlesex County Juvenile Court at 121 Third St in East Cambridge. The awards ceremony takes place Thursday, May 30th beginning at 6:00pm and will include an engaging presentation showcasing each project, along with an introduction of project principals. This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served, and on-site parking is available! As the venue is an active courthouse, security screening is in effect.

Please RSVP for this event via email to our Assistant Director Kit Rawlins at krawlins[at]cambridgema.gov. We hope to see you there! 🏢

2024 Preservation Awards: Call for 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 2024 Preservation Awards will recognize individuals and organizations for projects completed in Cambridge between January and December 2023. The awards will be presented at a ceremony in May 2024.

2023 Preservation Award winner: the 1839 Livermore-Fuller house at 8 Ellery Street

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.

To nominate a project, including your own, please submit a
completed nomination form and supporting documentation
no later than Noon on Friday, February 23, 2023 to:

Cambridge Historical Commission
831 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139

Or electronically to: histcomm@cambridgema.gov

Note: 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

Event Alert: 2022-23 Preservation Awards

Posted on by cambridgehistoricalcommission

It’s time for Preservation Awards!

Each year, the Cambridge Historical Commission honors projects and individuals that have made outstanding contributions to protect the city’s historic character and built environment. The 2022-23 Preservation Awards will recognize both buildings and notable individuals for projects completed between January and December 2022.

This year, we’re returning to our roots with an in-person reception hosted by awardee, The Foundry. If you can’t make it to the event in person, join us online! The awards ceremony takes place Thursday, May 25th at 6:00pm and will include an engaging presentation showcasing each project, along with an introduction of project principals. This event is free and open to the public.

To register for the in-person event, call our office at 617.349.4683 or email us at histcomm[at]cambridgema.gov. To view the program online via Zoom, click here. We hope to see you there! 🏟️

2023 Preservation Awards: Call for 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 2022-2023 Preservation Awards will recognize individuals and organizations for projects completed between January and December 2022. The awards will be presented at a ceremony in May 2023.

2022 Preservation Award winner: the 1862 Stephen Stiles house at 2203 Mass Ave (George Pereira and Denise Jillson)

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.

To nominate a project, including your own, please submit a
completed nomination form and supporting documentation
no later than Noon on Friday, February 24, 2023 to:

Cambridge Historical Commission
831 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139

Or electronically to: histcomm@cambridgema.gov

Note: 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