Preservation Awards
Historic Columbia's Annual
Preservation Awards
Each year Historic Columbia celebrates Preservation Month through an awards program recognizing notable examples of preservation, rehabilitation, and restoration projects that have maintained or added to Columbia and Richland County’s historical, architectural, and cultural heritage.
On Thursday, May 14, 2026, join Historic Columbia in celebrating 50 years of honoring preservation excellence in the capital city. This year's celebration will be bigger than ever, taking place at Columbia's newest event space and winner of a 2025 Preservation Award, The Laundry at BullStreet. More details coming soon!
Award Categories | Award nominations open late 2025
As Columbia and Richland County's leading advocate for historic preservation, Historic Columbia provides a range of resources for people committed to preserving our built heritage, and celebrates excellence in preservation by issuing awards each year under the following categories:
Preservation, Rehabilitation, or Restoration (commercial, institutional, rental, or municipal)
- This award celebrates commercial, institutional, rental, or municipal projects that follow the National Park Service's definitions of preservation, rehabilitation, or restoration.
Preservation, Rehabilitation, or Restoration (residential/single family)
- Historic Columbia’s Preservation, Rehabilitation or Restoration (Residential) award recognizes projects that follow the same, previously listed definitions, as they are applied to single-family homes.
Revitalization (any ownership or use)
- This award may include renovations to historic properties that are not academically correct, or new construction in a historic district that is of exceptional quality or sparks new investment. Recognizes a project or work that makes a special contribution to the community and/or a pioneering investment in historic districts in need of revitalization.
Preservation Leadership
Nominations in this category recognize an individual, corporation, governmental agency, community, or neighborhood association that has significantly contributed to the advancement of historic preservation in the community
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Required Materials Checklist
Historic Columbia has prepared a list of materials needed for each award type. Please ensure this check list is completed submitting your nomination. Download required materials checklist now.
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Best Practices in Nominations
To prepare the most effective nomination form, please review Historic Columbia's best practices in nominations prior to completing and submitting your application. Review quick tips now.
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Nominate
Nominations will open in late 2025.
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Review Committee
Each nomination will be reviewed by the Preservation Awards Committee made up of nine local leaders in architecture, interior design, and urban planning.
Nomination and Selection Process
Late 2025
Nominations Open
Historic Columbia calls for nominations. Submissions should follow the best practices outlined by Historic Columbia. Nominations are limited to projects in Columbia and Richland County completed within the past five years. Leadership awards have no time limit.
Late February 2026
Nominations Due
Nominations must be received by Historic Columbia’s Director of Preservation John Sherrer.
Early March
Review Process
Historic Columbia assembles in early March its preservation awards committee of local leaders in architecture, interior design, and urban planning reviews nominations. Meet the committee!
Submissions are weighed for the nominated party’s level of excellence in preservation and for the ability of the nomination to supply needed information. Applicants should review best practices before submission.
Early April
Winners Notified
Applicants will be notified in early April by Historic Columbia’s Executive Director of the committee’s decisions.
May 14, 2026
Preservation Awards Ceremony
Winners are kept a secret until the event.
Celebrate
Be a vocal preservationist by engaging in Historic Columbia’s annual events and programs that acknowledge excellence maintaining important tangible links to our built culture.
Become a Preservation Awards Sponsor!
Sponsorships help offset event costs, allowing for more of Historic Columbia's budget to go toward preserving our history.