For over forty-five years, the Metropolitan Historical Commission has recognized outstanding efforts to preserve Nashville’s historic architecture with its annual Preservation Awards program. For a list and map of previous award winners, from 1973 to the present, please visit the Preservation Awards dataset on Metro Nashville's Open Data Portal.
48th Annual Preservation Awards
The Metropolitan Historical Commission celebrated National Preservation Month by presenting Preservation Awards to fourteen properties and recognizing seven properties with honorable mentions at the 48th Annual Preservation Awards program on Monday, May 6, 2024. The event took place in the Nashville Public Library Conference Center; Mayor Freddie O’Connell assisted with the awards presentation. After the awards ceremony, Historic Nashville, Inc., Metro Historical Commission Foundation, and Preservation Society of Nashville hosted a reception honoring all participants at The Athenaeum at HASTINGS Architecture, 225 Polk Avenue, a 2021 Preservation Award winner.
Metro Nashville Network (MNN) recorded the program, which is available for viewing on Metro Nashville’s YouTube channel. Images of all recognized properties are featured on the 2024 Preservation Awards Photos page.
Properties were nominated this year in the categories of Infill, Commercial, Educational/Institutional, Residential, Industrial/Engineering, and Religious architecture. Amy Hardin, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, architect with Gresham Smith; Kate Hatfield, architectural historian/historic preservationist; and Paul Hoffman, architectural historian with RK&K Engineering Services, served as judges for the 2024 Preservation Awards.
In the Infill category, the judges recognized 912 Jackson Street with a Preservation Award. Built on a vacant lot in Hope Gardens, the new home’s design was inspired by the surrounding historic neighborhood. The judges recognized 1812 Holly Street in Lockeland Springs-East End with an honorable mention. The new home replaced one severely damaged by the March 2020 tornado.
In the Commercial category, the judges recognized 606 and 700 8th Avenue South with a Preservation Award (the properties were nominated together), commending the team for incorporating these familiar warehouse buildings into new development between the railroad and 8th Avenue South. The judges also recognized Ten21 at Five Points, located at 1021 Russell Street, with a Preservation Award. Damaged by the March 2020 tornado, the project involved meticulous repairs, including restoration of the distinctive windows and the reimagining and rebuilding of the former bell tower in the form of a contemporary lantern. The judges presented an honorable mention to Neighborlily at 606 Monroe Street in Germantown for adaptive reuse of a residence into a neighborhood flower, coffee and tea shop.
The judges presented one Preservation Award in the Educational/Institutional category, recognizing the stabilization and masonry repair of the Smokehouse at Historic Travellers Rest. The smokehouse is one of three extant historic structures on the property and is integral to telling the full story of the historic site. Also, in the Educational/Institutional category, the judges presented an honorable mention to The Boyd House at Fisk University. This historic home was nearly lost after significant fire and water damage. Community outcry helped halt demolition plans. After extensive repairs and accessibility upgrades, it is now a bustling campus building.
In the Residential category, the judges presented Preservation Awards to 822 Fatherland Street in Edgefield, 925 Halcyon Avenue in Waverly-Belmont, 3700 Brush Hill Road in Jackson Park, 3804 Brush Hill Road in Jackson Park, and 4501 Nebraska Avenue in Sylvan Park, for their sensitive renovations and additions and overall maintenance of the historic character of their properties. The judges recognized four properties with honorable mention: 912 South Douglas Avenue in Waverly-Belmont, 1402 Linden Avenue in Belmont-Hillsboro, 1907 Holly Street in Lockeland Springs-East End, and 2000 20th Avenue North in Belmont-Hillsboro.
The judges presented two Preservation Awards in the Industrial/Engineering category. In Germantown, the former Neuhoff Boiler Building and Engine Room spaces were adapted into a brewery tasting room and event space. The project serves as a gateway to the development occurring across the 13-acre Neuhoff District, serving as a remnant and reminder of the area’s important industrial history. After straight line winds destroyed the roof of the Tennessee Central Railway Museum, the organization took great care to rebuild the roof using the original steel trusses and recovered brick and terra cotta.
The judges presented three Preservation Awards in the Religious architecture category. The award to El Shaddai Christian Church at 10604 Concord Road celebrates the church’s years-long effort to return to their property along Mill Creek after floodwaters damaged the historic structure in 2010. Renovations to the building include features designed to mitigate damage from future flooding. The award to Cathedral of the Incarnation recognizes meticulous restoration of the sanctuary, and the award to West End Synagogue recognizes innovative renovations to the sanctuary and social hall. Though markedly different in their architecture and interior design, these projects honor and celebrate two of Nashville’s oldest congregations and their historic houses of worship.
Along with celebrating exceptional preservation projects, the Historical Commission presented four honor awards during the ceremony. The Commission presented the Fletch Coke Award to Tom Vickstrom, Director of Finance and Hotel Historian with The Hermitage Hotel, for excellence in researching, expanding, and promoting a comprehensive history of The Hermitage Hotel and sharing the forgotten stories of hospitality in Nashville.
The Commission presented the Achievement Award to Skip Nipper, baseball historian, for excellence in the documentation, preservation, and promotion of Nashville’s baseball history and sharing the full story of its players, teams, and ballparks.
The Commission recognized Nashville Old Timers Baseball Association with the Commissioners’ Award for excellence in the promotion of Nashville’s baseball history and ongoing efforts to support local development of the sport.
Previously presented to Nashville mayor Bill Purcell and Forest Hills mayor Bill Coke, the Preservation Leadership Award is given at the Commission’s discretion, to recognize outstanding leadership in Nashville history. Former Mayor of Nashville John Cooper was presented this award for dedication to supporting the preservation of Nashville’s historic and cultural resources, including Fort Negley Park, Sunnyside in Sevier Park, and Nashville City Cemetery.
The Historical Commission holds the Preservation Awards program annually to celebrate National Preservation Month, which is sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and observed nationally each year in May. The theme for Preservation Month 2024 is People Saving Places.
2024 Preservation Awards Digital Program
History Of the Preservation Awards Program
The Metropolitan Historical Commission’s Preservation Awards program began in 1973 as an Architectural Awards program. Miss Margaret Lindsley Warden, a charter member and former chair of the Metropolitan Historical Commission, had the idea to create an incentive for people to preserve historic buildings. She had observed how successful prizes were in horse shows and had heard of similar awards programs for preservation of buildings in other cities.
In 1973, the purpose was stated as:
- To stimulate interest in the owners of pertinent buildings to preserve and restore them with authenticity, and
- To spread information, i.e., to educate the community, on the merits (architectural and historical) and contemporary uses of distinguished buildings of the past.
The awards were originally aimed at residences, but the categories have increased as the need arose. In 1973 the categories included dwellings, offices, and historic districts. In 1997 those properties were expanded to six categories: residences (both single and multi-family structures), commercial buildings, religious properties, educational and institutional buildings, engineering and industrial structures, and infill construction.
Since 1973, over 400 awards have gone to a broad range of historic structures – dwellings, churches, commercial and industrial buildings, schools, even to bridges and new developments. Nominated by the public, they are honored for their sensitivity to the original architecture and the surrounding environment, creativity in adaptation for contemporary use, architectural merit and/or historic interest, long-term maintenance, adherence to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, and pioneering spirit. The public awards ceremony coincides with National Preservation Month, which is celebrated every year in May.
Today, in addition to recognizing various preservation projects, the Commission recognizes individuals and groups with a select number of special awards, including the Achievement and Commissioners’ Awards.
The Achievement Award is given to an individual in recognition of his/her extraordinary leadership in preserving Nashville’s history -- either through research and writing history or through advocacy and raising public awareness of history and preservation. The Commissioners' Award recognizes a group, program, or project that enhances Nashville’s history and historic resources. It is designed to honor projects that do not fit within the traditional preservation award categories. Achievement and Commissioners’ Awards are selected by the Historical Commission. In 2016, the Commission introduced the Fletch Coke Award, named in honor of Fletch Coke and her extraordinary efforts to preserve the history and historic landmarks of Nashville and Davidson County. Recipients are selected for their tenacity, curious spirit, and excellence in historical research, writing, and promotion of Nashville's local history and historic places.
In the early years, the Commission held a separate event to recognize various individuals, groups, and projects that were involved in the preservation of the built environment and the promotion of our local history. Eventually, the two awards programs were combined. In recent years, the name of the new program changed to “Preservation Awards” to acknowledge the diversity of individuals, groups, and types of projects receiving awards.
Participation In the Preservation Awards Program
Nominations for the 49th Annual Preservation Awards program are due in early 2025. Please email [email protected] for details.
For more information about the Preservation Awards program, please call the Metropolitan Historical Commission at 615-862-7970 or email [email protected].