May 22, 2008 (Minneapolis) - The Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission, The Minneapolis Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and Preserve Minneapolis announce the recipients of this year’s preservation awards. The partners honor exemplary projects, individuals and community organizations that celebrate and enhance the heritage and historic character of Minneapolis. These awards highlight the year’s best achievements for transforming an historic property, building, or landscape and reinventing it to incorporate both new and old elements in a way that that is respectful to the past. Projects were judged based on their careful attention to the quality of design, architecture, workmanship, and materials as well as their positive impact on the surrounding neighborhood and community.

The recipients will be announced at the 17 ^th annual awards ceremony on Thursday, May 22, 11:30am at International Market Square. Nine top honors will be presented:

Historic Restoration or Rehabilitation Project
St. Anthony Falls Office Building (Pillsbury Library)
100 University Avenue Southeast

Adaptive Reuse Project
Ripley Gardens
300 Queen Avenue North

New Addition to an Historic Building (2 Awards)
Queen Anne Residence

Kenwood neighborhood

Grace University Lutheran Church

324 Harvard Street Southeast

Neighborhood Preservation Award
1101 West Broadway
1101 West Broadway

Community Education & Advocacy
Twin Cities by Trolley,The Streetcar Era in Minneapolis and St. Paul

By Aaron Isaacs and John Diers

Good Luck and Godspeed
Howe School Reuse Task Force

3733 43 ^rd Avenue South

The Recent Past Award
Diamond Lake Residence
Diamond Lake Neighborhood

The Steve Murray Award
Charlene Roise

The City of Minneapolis Department of Community Planning and Economic Development solicited nominations; fifteen nominations were received. The awards jury was comprised of eight professionals and advocates representing the program sponsors.

The American Institute of Architects, the voice of the architecture profession dedicated to serving its members, advancing their value and improving the quality of the built environment, celebrated 150 years in 2007. AIA Minnesota and its chapters AIA Minneapolis, AIA Saint Paul and AIA Northern, take leadership positions on the discussion of issues affecting the public good and the development of appropriate public policy and collaborate with neighborhood groups, students, city officials, planners and more. They’ve created programs like AIA Minneapolis’ Mayor’s Great City Design Team Charrettes, AIA Saint Paul’s Unauthorized Design Competition and AIA Northern’s Waterways Charrettes to enable the profession’s outreach to community.  AIA Minnesota also publishes the award-winning magazine, Architecture Minnesota.

The Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) was formed in 1972 to serve as serves as a citizen advisory body to the Minneapolis City Council. The HPC is part of a nation-wide network of groups dedicated to the preservation and celebration of our local and national heritage. The Commission holds public hearings on matters related to preservation twice each month. Projects that come before the commission are administered through professional preservation-planning staff in the City of Minneapolis Community Planning and Economic Development Department (CPED).  These meetings are specifically held so that the Commission can hear from the public on matters related to heritage preservation. The public is welcome to attend and highly encouraged to participate. 

Preserve Minneapolis is a newly registered non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Minneapolis by recognizing, preserving, and revitalizing the architectural and related cultural resources of the city of Minneapolis. Founded in 2003, the group was originally brought together to attract the 2007 National Trust for Historic Preservation conference to the Twin Cities.  Preserve Minneapolis hosts monthly discussions and tours highlighting preservation activities in Minneapolis.

The City of Minneapolis Community Planning and Economic Development Department (CPED) provides preservation related services within Minneapolis local government.  These services include professional review for preservation permit applications, ongoing efforts to evaluate the historical significance of buildings and districts, recommendations for designation of local landmarks; prepares and administers design guidelines; conducts on-going research of eligible sites and districts; provides public education and community outreach programs; collaborates on the integration of historic preservation with City planning and development activities.

2008 Heritage Preservation Awards

Summaries of winning projects

Historic Restoration or Rehabilitation Project

St. Anthony Falls Office Bldg (Pillsbury Library)

Located in the St. Anthony Falls Historic District, the St. Anthony Falls Office Building involves the restoration of the former Pillsbury Library, a unique example of the Beaux-Arts architectural style. The building served as public library until 1967 and was used for a variety of community and retail services. The restoration by Domain Architecture makes way for new office space and included new windows, masonry cleaning, balustrade replacement, a rear ADA-compliant building addition and interior restoration.

Adaptive Reuse Project

Ripley Gardens

Ripley Gardens, the former Maternity Hospital listed on both the local and National Register of Historic Places, is significant for its association with Dr. Martha Ripley, one of the first female doctors in nation, as well as her pioneering work with low-income woman and obstetrics. The project combines the preservation and rehabilitation of three existing historic buildings and new construction three new buildings. Aeon Homes, and partners, have created a community of affordable rental and owner-occupied homes that respects the historic site while contributing to revitalization of the property and neighborhood.

New Addition to an Historic Building

Queen Anne Residence – Kenwood neighborhood

Preservation happens city-wide, not just in historic districts, and in a time when homeowners all too often tear down the community’s historic assets, it’s reassuring to see an example of thoughtful re-use and adaptation. As well as restoring this 1892 Queen Anne, designed by Harry Wild Jones, a rear two-story addition was added to the home. The seamlessness of the addition, designed by David Heide Studios, respects the home’s architectural integrity while providing the space and amenities that allow it to remain relevant and vital – this thoughtful evolution allows the home to stand for generations to come.

Grace University Lutheran Church

On the National Register of Historic Places, the Grace University Lutheran addition maintains the character of the historic Gothic Revival church, while accommodating the needs of a growing congregation and dealing with limited space due to the surrounding University of Minnesota health care campus. Seven years after the project was envisioned by the congregation, construction began, and was competed in 2006, with the design assistance of Miller Dunwiddie Architects. The work included renovation of the existing nursery and community hall; upgrading the HVAC systems; and building new office, kitchen, and classroom spaces. The addition also added a new accessible entry, ramp, and elevator that connect all levels of the building.

Neighborhood Preservation Award

1101 West Broadway

Located at the corner of West Broadway and Emerson Avenue North, this two-story commercial building had sat vacant for many years and was under ownership by the City of Minneapolis. The Ackerberg Group undertook the rehabilitation, which restored the exterior and interior as well as a rear building addition. The restoration of the building returns this vital corner back to the community through the City-County Federal Credit Union, the Bean Scene (a ground floor coffee shop), and Emerge Community Development offices on the second floor. The preservation of this building is an example of the hard work of the private and public sectors working to improve West Broadway and North Minneapolis.

Community Education & Advocacy

Twin Cities by Trolley, The Streetcar Era in Minneapolis and St. Paul

Twin Cities by Trolley by Aaron Isaacs and John Diers is the story of the Twin City Rapid Transit Company and how it shaped the growth and development of Minneapolis and St. Paul. From 1891 to 1954, its big yellow cars roamed the streets of Minneapolis until the auto-era replaced trolleys with cars and buses. Packed with photographs, maps, and interviews, Twin Cities by Trolley preserves the memory of a transportation technology that is as viable today as it was years ago, as evidenced in the new Hiawatha light rail line and other new rail projects.

Good Luck and Godspeed

Howe School Reuse Task Force

Built in 1927, Howe School has long served the Longfellow neighborhoods but is now one of the twelve school building that have been closed in recent years by the Minneapolis School District. The Howe School Reuse Task Force is a group of dedicated neighbors that are proactively exploring options for the reuse of the school based on community desires. They are raising community awareness as well as awareness with the School Board to ensure that the building is once again preserved and occupied.

The Recent Past Award

Diamond Lake Residence

Built in 1956 at the southern edge of Minneapolis, this 3,000 square foot rambler had good architectural bones but suffered from a glaring deficiency in style and grace. The project, by IOTA, included retention of stone fireplaces, pink tile bathroom and wood paneled walls in the lower level, while updating the kitchen other interiors. Located on prominent corner lot in the neighborhood, the house has become a source of pride for other mid-century home owners in the area and was featured in the design magazine Architecture Minnesota under the heading, "The Rambler Makes a Comeback."

The Steve Murray Award

For individual contribution local preservation

Charlene Roise

For over 25 years, the City of Minneapolis and the State of Minnesota, has benefited from Charlene’s perseverance, knowledge and dedication in personal advocacy and profession al career to advance historic preservation. As president of the historical consulting firm, Hess, Roise, and Company, she has been part of many important Minneapolis preservation endeavors including the State Theater, the Grain Belt Brewery, the Midtown Exchange, (Sears and Roebuck Building), Farmers and Mechanics Bank, and the Foshay Tower.

Charlene’s dedication to preservation in Minneapolis and Minnesota extends to her illustrious volunteer work as well. Charlene has been a board member, and chair, of many national and local preservation organizations, such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota, the Cultural Landscape Foundation, Artspace Projects, and one of the founders of Preserve Minneapolis. As part of the local group which brought the 2007 National Trust conference to Minneapolis and St. Paul last year, she also co-chaired the conference.