We’re excited to announce our Call for Nominations for the Greater Portland Landmarks’ 2026 Preservation Awards!

Every year GPL presents awards to people, projects, policies, and programs that exemplify the array of benefits of historic preservation. From storytellers to tradespeople, contextual new construction to caring restoration, innovative educational tools to insightful research, we consider any initiative that furthers our goals of protecting place, sharing stories, and proactively advocating for history in greater Portland. Anyone may submit a nomination and there is no fee required- see details below. The deadline for nominating is May 15th.

Questions? Contact Alison
Award Nominations One Sheet
 

Eligibility

Location: Structures, landscapes, people, programs, etc. in the greater Portland area, defined as: Cape Elizabeth, Chebeague Island, Cumberland, Falmouth, Gorham, Long Island, Portland, Scarborough, South Portland, Westbrook, and Yarmouth.

Timeframe: Projects must have been completed between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2025

Qualifying projects can represent any period and scale including but not limited to the below:

  • Structures & Landscapes

    Restoration: Work that returns a structure or landscape to an earlier condition and appearance related to its history.

    Stewardship: Work that ensures the protection of historic properties through stabilization or long-term care and maintenance.

    Rehabilitation: Work that preserves significant portions and features of a historic resource while updating it for contemporary needs

    Adaptive Use: Work that adapts a historic resource for a purpose different than its original use while maintaining characteristics that relate to its history.

    New Construction: New additions, stand-alone structures and/or landscapes that relate to their historic site or context.

    Accessibility/Resilience: Improvements that increase accessibility to a historic resource and/or adapt a historic place to prepare for the impacts of climate change.

  • People & Programs

    Education and Planning: Initiatives such as school or youth projects, publications, exhibitions, master planning, technology, or special programs that have substantially protected or heightened public awareness of Greater Portland’s historic resources. This also includes the groups or individuals leading these efforts.

    Advocacy and Public Policy: Individuals or groups that have made outstanding contributions or caused a beneficial long-term impact upon preservation in Greater Portland, through leadership, education, technical services, public policy, or advocacy.

    Research or Information Access: Efforts to research untold narratives or uncover stories that have been underrepresented in the
    historical record, or provide greater access to information through a new website, podcast, book, tour, map, etc.

    Legacy Businesses: Local businesses that have contributed to their community’s vibrancy and sense of place for 25 years or more.

 AWARDS CRITERIA:
Award selections will be made on criteria such as:

~Positive impacts to a neighborhood’s character, public realm, and revitalization

~Quality of design, execution, and materials

~Innovative or creative solutions to preservation challenges

~Efforts to increase public awareness of local historic resources and preservation practices

~Promotion of underrepresented histories, historic places, and narratives

 

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

  • ~Describe the history or significance of the structure, program, or initiative. If nominating an individual, please describe the person’s contribution to historic preservation in Greater Portland.

    ~Describe any unique strategies used or challenges that were overcome in order to complete the project, program, or achievement.

    ~Describe why you are nominating this person or project for a preservation award. Explain why this project is noteworthy and how it contributes to the vibrancy, placemaking, character, or storytelling of Portland.tion text goes here

  • Click here for Project Team Information Sheet. Please include ALL project team members, adding rows if needed. Provide information as it should appear on awards materials. Inclusion of project team members in promotional materials is at the discretion of Greater Portland Landmarks.

  • Please show all facades of the building or structure or all angles of the site. Please organize images into “Before” and “After” and include photographer credits and/or copyright permissions for each image. All files should be individual JPG or PNG files and can be shared via DropBox or similar file-sharing platform. All images submitted become the property of Greater Portland Landmarks for use in print or digital form to promote this Awards event and/or any future Greater Portland Landmarks activities.

 

 RECIPIENT EXPECTATIONS:

Greater Portland Landmarks is proud to partner with award recipients to promote the best of historic preservation in the Portland area. Awardees will be asked to:

~Partner in promotion of the award through social media and other channels

~Aid in acquiring additional photographs, materials, and information about the project as needed

~Participate in video production as needed for the Awards event and promotional materials

~Attend the Awards event this fall, details to be announced

 Nominations and questions should be directed to:
Alison Frazee, Director of Advocacy
afrazee@portlandlandmarks.org
207-358-7061

2025 Award Honorees
Click FOr More Past Award Winners