Madison Historic Preservation Awards

media release: We hope you will join the Madison Trust for Historic Preservation as we honor the outstanding projects, individuals, and organizations in our community that exemplify excellence in historic preservation.

Our evening celebration will feature a social hour followed by the awards ceremony. A limited number of tickets will also be available for a special pre-event Red Gym Restoration Tour.

4:45 p.m. ~ Red Gym Restoration Tour

6:00 p.m. ~ Social Hour & Hors d’oeuvres

7:00 p.m. ~ Awards Ceremony

Tickets

Madison Trust Members/Madison Trust Partners $45

General Public $55

Red Gym Restoration Tour $8

The Madison Trust for Historic Preservation is thrilled to announce the recipients of its Historic Preservation Awards, recognizing outstanding contributions to preservation in Madison, Wisconsin. These awards reflect the Madison Trust's commitment to preserving the rich history and cultural identity of Madison. The award recipients have demonstrated exceptional dedication to preservation, aligning with the Madison Trust's mission to promote awareness and appreciation of local heritage. The awards recognize the importance of community participation in preservation efforts and highlight the impact of preservation on Madison's architectural legacy. The recipients have made significant contributions to preservation, serving as a model for others to follow in preserving the city's unique heritage.

Henry Fauerbach House

Award: Restoration

The 1902 Henry Fauerbach House was restored after decades of deterioration, including removal of cement board siding to reveal and repair original cedar clapboard, reconstruction of a missing portion of the front porch, and recreation of lost architectural details. The project preserved key historic features while adding modern systems and finishes, successfully blending historic character with contemporary living.

 Atwood Music Hall

Award: Adaptive Reuse

Atwood Music Hall adaptively reuses a 1932 Art Deco church, restoring its rare lamella roof and historic sanctuary while transforming it into a modern performance venue. The project preserves the building’s architectural significance and renews its role as a community-centered space for music, education, and cultural events.

Circus World-Ringling Brothers Office

Award: Restoration

The Ringling Brothers Business Office restoration returns a 1903 landmark to its 1915 period of significance through meticulous preservation of original materials, reconstruction of lost features, and removal of non-historic alterations. Thoughtfully integrated modern systems and accessibility improvements ensure the building continues to serve as a vital educational and cultural resource within Circus World.

 Dylin Hotel Project

Award: Sensitive Infill

The Dylin Hotel project preserves and integrates the Reynolds Homestead and the historic Reynolds Warehouse façade into a new residential hotel, honoring the site’s industrial and residential heritage in Madison. Through complex engineering, thoughtful design, and significant financial commitment, the project successfully balances historic preservation with modern hospitality use.

Edgerton Community Outreach

Award: Adaptive Reuse

The Edgerton Community Outreach project adaptively reuses the 1854 Taylor House/American House in Edgerton, transforming a deteriorated historic landmark into supportive housing for veterans and a vibrant community hub. Through careful preservation, structural rehabilitation, and sustainable practices, the project honors the building’s past while addressing critical present-day needs.

 Grace Episcopal Church

Award: Restoration

The restoration of the over 150-year-old Grace Episcopal Church in Madison replaced its failing slate roof, repaired structural damage, and reinforced critical load-bearing systems to ensure long-term stability. By combining historic preservation with modern engineering, the project protects the church’s architectural integrity and cultural legacy for the next century.

Mendota Lake House

Award: Adaptive Reuse

The Mendota Lake House restoration transformed a historic 1912 Arts and Crafts residence into a modern, energy-efficient bed and breakfast while preserving its architectural character and heritage. Through thoughtful collaboration and innovative solutions, the project successfully balanced sustainability, guest comfort, and historic preservation, ensuring the building’s continued vitality for future generations.

 Sam Breidenbach

Award: Advocacy

Sam Breidenbach has made a lasting impact on Madison through his decades of work restoring historic buildings and his dedicated leadership within the preservation community. Known for his integrity, craftsmanship, and thoughtful stewardship, he has strengthened both the city’s architectural legacy and the people and organizations committed to protecting it.

The Shop Lofts

Award: Adaptive Reuse

The Shop Lofts project transformed a historic Model A assembly building in downtown Stoughton into a thoughtfully restored and modernized 17-unit apartment community. By combining creative preservation techniques with a focus on affordability and community impact, the project revitalizes a key historic property while supporting the city’s future growth.

 Honorable Mentions

Our two honorable mention projects represent thoughtful and well-executed examples of preservation at the residential level. These projects demonstrate the care, responsibility, and attention to detail that stewardship of historic homes requires, ensuring that important architectural features are maintained and preserved for the future. While more modest in scope, they reflect the essential, ongoing work that sustains our historic neighborhoods and serves as a strong model for homeowners committed to preservation.

Graaskamp House

The Graaskamp House is a uniquely personal and architecturally significant home that reflects Professor James Graaskamp’s vision of accessibility, resilience, and the social responsibility of the built environment. Recent preservation efforts have carefully maintained its original character while addressing essential repairs, ensuring its legacy endures for future generations.

Van Tamelen House

The Van Tamelen House, a 1956 Frank Lloyd Wright–designed home in collaboration with Marshall Erdman, remains a highly intact example of early modern residential design. Recent exterior work carefully addressed essential repairs and maintenance needs while preserving the home’s original materials and architectural character.