HOUSTON – (Realty News Report) – Preservation Houston’s 2020 Good Brick Awards celebrate a diverse group of projects that span locations, architectural styles, eras and uses.
The organization honored and showcased exceptional examples of preservation, restoration and adaptive reuse at its Cornerstone Dinner, held recently at River Oaks Country Club.
Preservation Board president Kate McCormick noted that this year’s projects reflect a growing trend: more owners and developers are taking on preservation projects outside designated historic districts.
“We are encouraged that Houstonians are embracing the importance of preserving the historic fabric of all neighborhoods,” she said.
The 2020 Good Brick Award recipients rehabilitated historic residences, repurposed vintage commercial buildings, restored landmark church sanctuaries, and saved a culturally significant mural in the Third Ward. Even a space-related facility was recognized. The projects’ ages span nearly a century, from 1875 to the late 1960s.
The awards specifically honored the following projects:
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NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center for restoring the Apollo Mission Control Center to its 1969 condition with careful attention to authenticity.
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Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Houston for restoration of its historic sanctuary, originally constructed around 1893.
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South Main Baptist Church for restoring its historic sanctuary dating to 1930, located in present-day Midtown.
Notable commercial preservation and adaptive reuse projects included:
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Supreme Bright Houston/Newcrest Image for converting the 1966 Houston Bar Association Building into the AC Hotel by Marriott Houston Downtown.
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Todd Interests for transforming the Petroleum Building (1927) into the Cambria Hotel.
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Roberts Industrial Center Inc. for restoring the former W-K-M Company headquarters (1947) in the East End.
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Radom Capital LLC for rehabilitating a 1955 mid-century modern retail center in Houston Heights.
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Pejman James and Oxberry Group for renovating the 1936 Quality Laundry Building in Montrose.
Residential award winners included thoughtful restorations and rehabilitations across several historic neighborhoods:
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Ronald David Powell for restoring a folk Victorian home (1892) in the Near Northside.
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Karen and Neal Dikeman for restoring two historic houses (1890 and 1910) in the Old Sixth Ward Historic District.
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Phil Neisel for restoring the Benjamin Reisner House (1875) in the Old Sixth Ward Historic District.
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Parra Design Group for rehabilitating the Milton and Carrie Curtis House (1952) in the Fifth Ward.
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Four Square Design Studio for rehabilitating a folk Victorian house (1900) in the First Ward.
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Laura Carrera and Andres Utting for rehabilitating a Craftsman bungalow (1930) in the Norhill Historic District.
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Jerry Hooker and Jacob Sudhoff for restoring the C.L. Neuhaus House (1909) in the Courtlandt Place Historic District.
Additional recognitions included:
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City of Houston for developing the Houston Heights Design Review Guidelines.
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Houston Community College for the book “100 Years of Educating Houston and the World: The San Jacinto Memorial Building.”
The Martha Peterson Award was presented to Blue Triangle Multi-Cultural Association Inc. for restoring John Biggers’ historic mural “The Contribution of Negro Woman to American Life and Education” (1953) at the Blue Triangle Community Center in the Third Ward.
Former Mayor Annise Parker received the Preservation Houston President’s Award in recognition of her significant contributions to historic preservation in Houston.
Feb. 24, 2020 Realty News Report Copyright 2020
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