Landmarks Illinois announces winners of 2026 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards

Preservation efforts & leaders will be honored at an awards ceremony this fall

Chicago, Sept. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Landmarks Illinois has announced the winners of the 2026 Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards. The annual awards program honors exceptional preservation leaders and community-led preservation efforts that spark economic development, contribute to a sustainable built environment and improve the quality of life in communities across the state.

This year’s nine award winners are in Alton, Alto Pass, Champaign County, Chicago, East St. Louis and Edwardsville. All 2026 award winners will be honored at a public awards ceremony on November 6 in Chicago.

“Our 2026 award winners have reimagined places of our past to create a more dynamic and inclusive future for us all,” said Frank Butterfield, Interim President & CEO of Landmarks Illinois. “These projects are about much more than saving brick and mortar—they are revitalizing communities, advancing cultural representation and delivering resources people want and need today, like housing and economic growth. We are excited to honor these leaders in preservation who have made a lasting impact on Illinois communities.”

2026 AWARD RECIPIENTS
The Wedge Innovation Center - Alton
2026 Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award for Rehabilitation
Two historic buildings in downtown Alton have been revitalized into a dynamic, multi-use civic hub featuring retail, coworking and business incubator space. Driven by extensive community input, the project was part of social impact redevelopment company AltonWorks’ efforts to transform the city’s downtown with inventive, preservation-focused redevelopment that sparks economic growth while engaging residents and providing needed resources to the region.

Rendleman Orchards Historic District - Alto Pass
2026 Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award for Stewardship
Established in 1873, the Rendleman Orchards family-owned farm has become Union County’s first National Register historic district following an extensive three-year historical research effort led by fifth-generation owners. The operational orchard and historic district features 34 contributing structures and serves as a dynamic heritage tourism destination celebrating Southern Illinois’ agricultural history.

Champaign County African American Heritage Trail - Champaign County
2026 Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award for Stewardship
Accelerated by nationwide protests in 2020 against racial injustice, this unique trail connects local sites of Black historic significance through public-facing interpretive material. The community-driven and volunteer-led initiative celebrates the lives and contributions of African Americans in the Champaign County area, making this vital history visible to more people.

The Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation - Chicago
2026 Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award for Rehabilitation
The Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation adaptively reused the formerly vacant Robert Emmet Elementary School to create a modern workforce development center and community services hub. Driven by grassroots advocacy from Austin neighborhood residents, the state-of-the-art facility now offers local job training, financial coaching, legal aid and other supportive services for community members.

Little Village Arch Restoration Project - Chicago
2026 Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award for Restoration
Designed by Mexican American architect Adrián Lozano, Chicago's iconic Little Village Arch serves as an important cultural gateway celebrating Mexican and Mexican American heritage along the West 26th Street commercial corridor. A comprehensive restoration, led by the Chicago Department of Transportation and JLK Architects, revitalized the Chicago Landmark to ensure its preservation for future generations.

Muddy Waters MOJO Museum - Chicago
2026 Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award for Restoration
Muddy Waters’ former 1891 two-flat home has been restored and reimagined into a museum, studio and performance space that celebrates the legendary Blues musician and Chicago Blues history. Through extensive repairs, creative vision and community support, the ambitious multi-phase project transformed the once endangered property into a vibrant gathering place in the North Kenwood neighborhood.

The New Broadview - East St. Louis
2026 Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award for Rehabilitation & Richard H. Driehaus Legacy Award
Architect Rosemann & Associates and developer Efficacy Consulting and Development led a $30 million rehabilitation of the formerly vacant Broadview Hotel in East St. Louis, creating a vibrant, mixed-use space that provides affordable housing, community business incubation and social programming spaces. The project thoughtfully transformed the once endangered historic site into a nationally recognized landmark designed to foster economic opportunity and neighborhood stability, serving as a model for how adaptive reuse can deliver transformative and catalytic impacts in historically disinvested communities.

West End Service Station - Edwardsville
2026 Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award for Stewardship
The City of Edwardsville revamped a long-vacant former Route 66 service station once set for demolition into a visitor center and local museum. The landmark now amplifies local history and continues to drive economic development and community revitalization—a fitting project to celebrate during the Mother Road’s centennial year.

Brad White
2026 Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award for Leadership
With over 40 years of experience in community development, philanthropy and affordable housing, Brad White is one of Illinois’ most influential preservation leaders. Recently retired from his role with the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, White led a distinguished career during which he spearheaded impactful preservation projects like Oak Park's Unity Temple and Chicago’s 606 Trail, shaped national preservation policy through his presidential appointment to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and ensured people remain connected to the places that define their communities, share stories of our past and shape our future.

Learn more about our 2026 award winners on our website.

AWARD CEREMONY EVENT DETAILS
The 2026 Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards Ceremony will take place November 6 at 6 p.m. at the Rubloff Auditorium and Chicago Stock Exchange Trading Room at the Art Institute of Chicago, 230 S. Columbus Dr. The event will feature an awards ceremony followed by a cocktail reception.

The event is open to the public. Tickets are $60 for Landmarks Illinois members and $75 for non-members. A student rate of $20 is also available with proof of a student ID. Former winners of the Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards are highly encouraged to attend and can receive a discounted ticket.

Guests who wish to join remotely can view a live, virtual presentation of the ceremony for free with registration. To learn more or to purchase tickets, visit our website.

ABOUT LANDMARKS ILLINOIS
Landmarks Illinois is a membership-based, historic preservation nonprofit organization founded in 1971. Our mission is to accelerate preserving and reusing significant places statewide to foster healthy, livable and thriving communities. Through advocacy, funding, technical expertise and public engagement, we position preservation as an accessible, equitable and effective tool to support strategic, community-driven revitalization. For more information, visit www.Landmarks.org.

 

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• 2026 Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards

Kaitlyn McAvoy
Landmarks Illinois
312-995-9679 
kmcavoy@landmarks.org