2025 Preservation Excellence Award Winners
Hosted at the historic Carnegie of Columbia Tusculum on May 15, 2025
the Preservation Excellence Awards honored winners across nine categories.
Congrats to the 2025 Preservation Award Winners
Volunteer Award
Abigail Lovins, a young architect at PWWG Architects, has been a consistent face at Cincinnati Preservation Events for the last several years. Any time we have a request for volunteers, Abby is one of the first to raise her hand to help. Abby can be seen at the check in table, behind the bar at our Membership events, and helping to set up.
Over the past year, Abby has also stepped up into a leadership role with being a part of the core group of young adults who have created the Cincinnati Preservation Young Preservationists Program. As part of the committee she had helped craft the programing that is inspiring the next generation of preservation leaders. As an architect, who just passed all of her exams, that works with historic buildings, Abby talks the talk and walks the walk.
Preservation Excellence in Education
The Harriet Beecher Stowe House
Located at 2950 Gilbert Avenue in Walnut Hills, the Harriet Beecher Stowe House is where the renowned abolitionist and Uncle Tom’s Cabin author spent a formative period of her life. This historic site has long served as a beacon of education, illuminating the anti-slavery movement and the lasting impact of Stowe’s legacy.
In 2024, the Harriet Beecher Stowe House completed a significant restoration project, revitalizing both the 1840 Beecher family home and the 1940 Edgemont Inn addition. This dual focus highlights the layered history of the site, making the project especially meaningful by honoring the multiple narratives embedded in the building.
This $2.5 million initiative included extensive interior and exterior renovations, ensuring the preservation of the house’s historical integrity while enhancing its capacity to educate future generations. The project itself became a powerful teaching tool, with guided tours, public lectures, and social media updates offering insights into the detailed—and often surprising—journey of historic restoration.
Through this comprehensive restoration and its continued dedication to education, the Harriet Beecher Stowe House stands as a testament to the power of place in shaping our understanding of history.
Preservation Excellence in Sustainability
Peete Alley Restoration
by Spring in Our Steps
Peete Alley, located in the heart of Over-the-Rhine, is a hidden gem with a rich history. Its bowlder-pavement, known more commonly as cobblestone, construction is a remnant street surface that was used prominently throughout Cincinnati from the 1860’s through the 1890’s. Slabs of limestone called flagstones frame a pitched, bowlder-pavement surface, which were constructed as gutters along the granite curbs and as cartwheel tracks. This street surface was commonly replaced by brick pavers in alleys, beginning in the 1890’s and there are very few examples of cobblestone construction left.
While it had not been covered with bricks or pavement, Peete Alley has fallen into disrepair over the years. But through the Spring in Our Steps initiative, a committed group of preservationists and community members set out to bring new life to this historic alley, while making it more sustainable for the future.
The restoration project not only preserved the unique character of Peete Alley’s historic architecture, but it also incorporated sustainable design practices throughout. By repurposing original materials and sourcing other preserved historic materials, and implementing stormwater management systems, the project reduced environmental impact and ensured the longevity of the space.
The project began as much a restoration project and a preventive measure against large-scale development as it was an educational opportunity for neighborhood passersby who would often ask questions and talk with those working on the restoration. Now with its completion the alley has well-used neighborhood connection for dogwalking and walkers.
Through the Spring in Our Steps Peete Alley Restoration Project, we see a perfect example of how preservation can be the ultimate form of recycling — giving new life to a historic space while protecting our environment.
Preservation Excellence in New Construction
Griffon Apartments
by New Republic Architecture
Griffon Apartments by New Republic Architecture is a project that proves new construction can both stand out and fit in.
Located in Over-the-Rhine, one of Cincinnati’s most architecturally rich and complex districts, the Griffon Apartments posed a big design challenge: how do you add new housing in a way that respects the surrounding historic fabric — without copying it?
New Republic Architecture’s answer was a masterclass in balance. The Griffon Apartments blend contemporary form with historic sensitivity, using thoughtful proportions, material choices, especially the use of the buff brick to match neighboring buildings along Central Parkway, and massing to echo the rhythm of nearby buildings without becoming a replica. It’s bold, it’s respectful, and above all — it elevates the neighborhood by showing how new and old can coexist in harmony. What makes this even more impressive is that Griffon Apartments is affordable housing—demonstrating that even projects with tight budgets can offer beauty, dignity, and a high quality of life for all residents.
The Griffon Apartments project reminds us that preservation isn’t just about what we save — it’s also about how we build next.
Preservation Excellence in Commercial Projects
The Liberty Theater
by Drawing Department
Built in 1893 by a thriving community of German immigrants and residents, the building was originally built as the Lawrenceburg Liedertafel, translated roughly as Song Table and referring to a traditional German men’s choral group. While it was once a beacon of entertainment for the city, the Liberty Theatre had fallen silent — its lights dimmed, its marquee forgotten. But through vision, expertise, and deep respect for its past, the Drawing Department as the architect and City of Lawrenceburg as the owner helped bring this historic venue roaring back to life.
With a careful and creative restoration approach, they preserved the theater’s defining architectural elements —iconic pressed metal cornice, a collection of crenelations and miniature minarets was preserved and repainted. — while adapting the space for modern commercial use.
Special attention was given to the restoration of the stage. Being old-growth wood from the turn of the 19th century, this turned out better than possibly could have been expected and is frequently assisted with copper plate repairs that will exhibit a patina of the years. It is comforting to consider that the same boards that once supported legions of polka dancers and yodelers, merrymaking and joyfully spilling beer will now support travelling bluegrass and folk shows, crowds merrymaking and joyfully spilling beer.
Preservation Excellence in Residential Projects
The Morse House
by House of Huber
Built in 1850 by Increase Sumner Morse, this Federal-style brick home is one of the oldest surviving structures in Clermont County. Originally situated at the corner of Main and Oak Streets, it once operated as an inn and general store, serving as a central hub in Amelia’s early development. In 1998, to save it from demolition, the entire structure was carefully relocated a half-block to its current site on Oak Street.
After sitting vacant for decades, the Morse House was at risk of irreversible decay. That changed when Adam and Courtney Huber of House of Huber took on the ambitious task of restoring this historic gem. Their thoughtful approach preserved original features like the hand-fired brick façade and interior woodwork, while seamlessly integrating modern amenities to make the home livable for a contemporary family.
The Hubers’ attention to detail is impressive—they handcrafted all the tile used in the bathrooms, shower, wet room and kitchen backsplash, spending over a year learning, mastering, and creating the pieces. They also recreated two missing mantels to match the second floor’s Early Greek Revival style and carefully repaired the collapsed brick and limestone hearths.
When the house was relocated in 1999, its original 18 windows were removed and replica 6-over-6, double-pane wood windows were made to match the 36″ x 75″ openings. The Hubers also corrected a shortened front door by removing a faux Federal-style surround and extending the door to its original fenestration.
Thanks to their commitment to authenticity and craftsmanship, the Hubers have transformed the Morse House into a vibrant, livable home that honors its rich architectural and cultural legacy. It stands as a testament to the power of preservation and the impact of dedicated individuals.
Preservation Excellence in Adaptive Reuse
Freight House
by Meyer Brothers and Sons
The Freight House in Hamilton, Ohio — a once-forgotten piece of railroad history — was brought back to life as the new home of Meyer Brothers and Sons, a fifth-generation construction company that knows a thing or two about building legacy.
Built in the mid-1800s as part of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad complex, this depot in Hamilton Ohio was a bustling hub for passengers and freight, even hosting a campaign speech by Abraham Lincoln in 1859. After sitting vacant for decades, the building faced the threat of irreversible decay. Meyer Brothers and Sons took on the challenge of restoring this historic gem, investing over $1 million in the renovation.
With great care, they stabilized and preserved the original timber framing, masonry walls, and industrial windows. Their work involved preserving original features like the hand-fired brick façade and interior woodwork, while updating the space with modern amenities to make it functional for their design/build/remodel business. The team also repurposed materials from the building, transforming old doors into desks and incorporating historic hardware into lighting fixtures. This attention to detail kept the railroad soul intact while creating a modern office space.
This project isn’t just about saving a building — it’s about honoring Hamilton’s industrial past while investing in its future.
Impact Award
Artworks Creative Campus
ArtWorks Creative Campus is a visionary project that has transformed a historic space into a vibrant hub for the arts, education, and community engagement in Walnut Hills. ArtWorks, known for its powerful community-based public art initiatives, saw potential in 2429 Gilbert Avenue in Walnut Hills. Constructed in 1908, the structure originally served as the headquarters for the Bolce Paint Company, one of the nation’s oldest paint retailers and the largest west of the Alleghenies at the time. In the mid-20th century, it became home to Race Refrigeration, a family-run business that operated for over 50 years. In August 2021, ArtWorks acquired the three-story, 13,000-square-foot building, embarking on a comprehensive renovation to transform it into a dynamic arts facility.
The renovation, completed in 2024, leveraged historic tax credits to preserve the building’s character while incorporating modern amenities that support ArtWorks’ mission of creating career opportunities for artists of all ages. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the ArtWorks team, the structure was thoughtfully restored—honoring its historic fabric while transforming it into a vibrant creative hub.
Key preservation efforts included saving historic signage, salvaging painted windows, restoring previously painted exterior tile which revealed mosaic tile signs on the building façade, and highlighting an historic iron ‘B’ (for Bolce) through carefully chosen paint colors. Additionally, a former blade sign of historic significance was electrified and installed indoors. The campus now features administrative offices, creative studios, and gathering spaces, offering an inspiring environment where artists, students, and the community can collaborate, learn, and innovate.
This project has had a transformative effect—not only on the building itself but on the surrounding community. Through the restoration and the creation of a vibrant art park, ArtWorks has revitalized a key corner of the city, energizing both the interior and exterior spaces. The project is breathing new life into Walnut Hills while supporting local art initiatives that engage and uplift Cincinnatians of all ages and backgrounds.
The ArtWorks Creative Campus exemplifies how preserving our past can create opportunities for the future, transforming both physical space and community.
Preservation Champion
Scott Clark
Scott Clark of Newport, Kentucky, is a true preservation powerhouse whose passion, persistence, and leadership have left an indelible mark on the Northern Kentucky landscape — one building, one block, one brick at a time.
In 2011, Scott was hired by the city of Newport, Kentucky as contractor with the city of Newport as the city’s Preservation Officer. A position he would hold until March of this year. Scott focused his efforts on three main areas, preservation advocacy with the city, the state, and most importantly with the citizens of Newport. His second focus was to add to the power of preservation in the City and Northern Kentucky by working diligently to add local historic districts and national historic districts to the community. When Scott started his efforts, Newport had but one district, The East Row District. Upon his leaving his office at the city, Newport could boast four local districts, East Row, York Street, Monmouth (central business district), Buena Vista, and eight National Register districts including Mansion Hill, East Newport, Cote Brilliant, York Street, York Street Expansion, Buena Vista, Courthouse Square and Monmouth. Of particular note is his work on Buena Vista, a diverse neighborhood that is also the oldest in Northern Kentucky.
From the nomination by Brian Hackett, these words sum up so much of the power that Scott brings to preservation.
“I want to add the most important aspect of Mr. Clark’s career. Taking in account all his advocacy, his advising, consulting and mentoring, all his districts and countless nominations, the most incredible talent of Scott is his ability to make preservation skeptics and critics into true believers. As you know, preservation is not an easy sell to most people. You have heard all the arguments from government takeover to violation of “my rights.” I have witnessed on more than a few occasions where difficult individuals, taking the time to talk to Scott are converted to not just preservation fans but advocates and champions. “
Scott Clark reminds us that preservation isn’t just a profession — it’s a calling.
