Bethel Park in Freedmen's Town. Photo: Jim Parsons.
Last week Preservation Houston celebrated its 35th Anniversary at its annual Cornerstone benefit, handing out 10 Good Brick Awards to recognize excellence in local preservation and restoration work. It was a spirited event that showcased a great variety of projects ranging from a delicate Victorian house restoration to the conversion of the historic Bethel Church into a park following the devastating fire in 2005 that left the building as just a shell. The diverse group of winners was selected from 20 nominees, a sign that Houston continues to gain momentum in building its culture of historic preservation.
Here is a complete list of the winners:
Photo: Hester + Hardaway.
Photo: Sandra P. Ray.
Photo: Shau Lin.
Photo: Larry Horn Illumine Photographic Services.
Photo: Bao Loi.
Photo: Hester + Hardaway.
Photo: Cisneros Design Studio.
Photo: Jim Parsons.
Photo: Andy Phan.
Courtesy photo.
Photo: Jim Parsons.
Photo: Tom Fox, SWA Group.
C. Milby Dow House
1305 South Boulevard
1926, John Staub; restoration: Stern and Bucek Architects
Gayle & Arlen Ferguson
For a sympathetic addition to 219 West 11th Street
1904; addition: Flores and Associates
Harris County Precinct Two
For the restoration of the Sylvan Beach Pavilion
1 Sylvan Beach Drive, La Porte
1956, Graecen & Brogniez; restoration: Kirksey Architecture
David Hille
For the restoration of 504 Enid Street
Designer: David Hille
Diane & Ray Krueger
For the restoration of and sympathetic addition to 3315 West 12th Street
1965; restoration and addition: AMB Architects
Doug Lawing
For the restoration of 1112 Milford Street
1926, Carlos B. Schoeppl; restoration: Kerry Goelzer Associates
Summer Ventures, LP
For the restoration of 2500 Summer Street (Cook Paint & Varnish Co. Building)
1930-1965; restoration: Cisneros Design Studio
Trinity Episcopal Church
For the restoration of its historic stained glass windows
1015 Holman Avenue
1919, Cram & Ferguson; stained glass restoration: HBL Architects and Freebird Glass, Inc.
Future Landmark Award
Discovery Green
2008, Hargreaves Associates, Page, and Lauren Griffith Associates
Martha Peterson Award
Houston Audubon
For the restoration of the Edith L. Moore Log Cabin
440 Wilchester Boulevard
1932; restoration: Kerry Goelzer Associates
Stewart Title Award
Houston Parks and Recreation Department
For incorporating the ruins of Bethel Baptist Church into Bethel Park
1923, 1950; stabilization and park design: White Oak Studio and JE Dunn Construction
Community Pillar Award
Hermann Park Conservancy
In response to the growing public interest in Houston’s architectural heritage, for the first time this year Preservation Houston will open up Good Brick winners to the public with tours on May 3 and 4. Tours will be self-guided with docents stationed at each site. Though the full list of open buildings is still being finalized, it will include some of this year’s winners as well as award recipients from years past. The tours will give the public a great opportunity to learn from and appreciate these successful examples of restoration work.
Throughout the Cornerstone dinner, participants commented on the progress Houston has made over Preservation Houston’s 35 years, often recalling early years when only one Good Brick was awarded and the organization struggled to collect even a few nominations. And now after 35 years, according to Preservation Houston Director Stephanie Ann Jones, “the Good Brick Awards have served as a way for the community to celebrate more than 200 projects of preservation excellence.” We look forward to seeing many of these celebrated projects up close this Spring.
Tour tickets are available here through May 1st. They are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Patron tickets will also be available for $50, which will include admission to a kickoff party at the NuSmile building (a 2014 Good Brick winner), on the evening of May 2.
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Read Hank Hancock on the efforts to restore the Sylvan Beach Pavilion.
By Helen B. Bechtel
