Call for Nominations: 2025 Excellence Awards

The Preservation League of NYS Announces Annual Excellence Awards Call for Nominations

A flagship program for over 40 years, the League’s Excellence Awards honor the very best in historic preservation from across New York State.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

4/22/25, ALBANY, NY – The Preservation League of NYS has officially opened nominations for their 2025 Excellence in Historic Preservation Awards. The League's annual Excellence Awards program shines a light on the people who are using historic preservation to make our world better — through exemplary restoration projects, indispensable publications, individual action, and organizational distinction. New in 2025: The Preservation Trades Award, honoring individuals or teams that demonstrate exceptional skill, commitment, and creativity in traditional trades practices.

“The Excellence Awards program brings statewide attention to preservation happening in every corner of New York,” said Katy Peace, Director of Communications for the Preservation League of NYS. “There are so many amazing preservation projects that deeply enrich their neighborhoods and creative preservation practitioners whose work makes our state stronger. The League is always excited to shine a light on how preservation is helping communities – from the biggest cities to the most rural districts – be more equitable and resilient while showcasing what makes these places special.”

Recipients of the Excellence Award represent the very best of what the League stands for and supports in historic preservation. They exemplify best practices in the field and demonstrate how preservation is integral to building stronger neighborhoods, boosting local economies, tackling the affordable housing crisis, mitigating climate change, opening our eyes to overlooked history, and saving the places that are special to all of us.

This Call for Nominations will result in several awards in late 2025. The League offers awards to projects, individuals, publications, organizations, and for the first time in 2025, preservation tradespeople. The awards jury may or may not make awards in every category in any given year. Initiatives relating to social justice, civil rights, climate action, and affordable housing are especially encouraged.

To be considered for an award from the Preservation League, nomination must be based in New York State. Nominations in the Project and Publication categories must be complete as of the submission date and must have been completed no earlier than May 2022. Program details and eligibility information, and a link to submit a nomination can found at preservenys.org/excellence-awards.

Judging Criteria:

  • Level of statewide significance

  • Impact on underrepresented communities or overlooked history

  • Effective solutions to current preservation issues (e.g. climate change, lack of affordable housing, etc.)

  • Degree of difficulty faced, and creativity shown in the solution

  • Level of impact on the community, region, or state

  • Display of collaborative efforts

  • For restoration and rehabilitation projects: Design sensitivity to the historic character and fabric of the property while utilizing appropriate preservation techniques, such as the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards

Nominations are due: Monday, June 16, 4:00 p.m. EST. Questions can be directed to the League’s Director of Communications Katy Peace via email: kpeace@preservenys.org

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