Restore Oregon has selected eleven historic projects across Oregon to receive a 2021 DeMuro Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation, the state’s highest honor for the preservation, reuse, and revitalization of architectural and cultural sites.
Restore Oregon promotes inclusive historic preservation as a means of preserving our region’s cultural heritage, and as a tool for solving challenges such as insufficient affordable housing, stalled economic development, and negative impacts from climate change. The annual DeMuro Awards program recognizes significant achievements in the preservation of Oregon’s built environment by showcasing teams of architects, property owners, and community leaders who have honored Oregon’s historic architecture and cultural heritage.
This year’s winners join nearly 100 projects that have been recognized with DeMuro Awards since 2013. Winning projects are selected by a jury of top professionals in the fields of architecture, engineering, planning, and historic preservation who select projects that align with Restore Oregon's mission. “These DeMuro-award winning projects serve as inspiration for solving real-world challenges in every community in our state” said Nicole Possert, Restore Oregon Executive Director. “Our jury from across Oregon selected our 2021 winners based on each project’s positive impact upon its community, the ways in which each project might inspire others to save historic places, and the degree to which each project aligned with Restore Oregon’s mission to preserve, reuse, and pass forward the historic places that reflect Oregon’s diverse cultural heritage and make our communities inclusive, vibrant, and sustainable.”
The Madeleine Story:
Over the course of 109 years, the original sanctuary of The Madeleine’s Old Church had fallen into disrepair. Reviving it as a sacred space for prayer, learning, and community events came with the challenge of bringing this early 20th century building up to code while also preserving and restoring its historic character. The design team worked to integrate and conceal modern systems like high efficiency heating and cooling, and significant structural upgrades, so that the most exceptional aspects of this project would be elements that go unseen today. Trim and stained-glass windows were refurbished, and the accent wall from the 1930s that had been previously painted over was recreated, complete with gold leaf detailing. Daily Mass is now celebrated in the stunning refurbished sanctuary that once again serves as an essential part of The Madeleine Parish community. Photo credit: Pete Eckert.