Nominations open for 2013 McMath Award

October 30, 2013

Applications will be accepted through Friday, November 15, to nominate an individual for the George McMath Historic Preservation Award, given annually by the University of Oregon.

The accolade is presented annually to an individual who has made significant contributions to historic preservation in Oregon. The award is for exceptional and commendable work, with special consideration given to the development of new ideas, approaches, and innovations in historic preservation. The conferral is intended to raise public awareness of historic preservation and promote excellence in preservation practice through the recognition of significant leaders in the field.

Nominees must be individuals or representatives of an organization, company, or agency involved in historic preservation. Preference may be given to those who have recognized heritage value at the community, city, or state levels. Self-nominations are accepted.

This is the sixth year for the award. Prior honorees include Bill Hawkins, Hal Ayotte, Elisabeth Walton Potter, Cathy Galbraith, and James Hamrick. The award will be presented May 2014 at the University of Oregon in Portland.

Old Church in PortlandThe nomination application and additional information is available at: http://hp.uoregon.edu/mcmath/, or email Tracy Schwartz at hpgtf@uoregon.edu for information.

The award is sponsored by the UO and Venerable Group, Inc., which together have established the Venerable Historic Preservation Program Fund to provide support for new adjunct faculty members and to recognize significant leaders in preservation through the McMath awards. Venerable and its subsidiaries provide professional real estate services with a special focus on historic properties.

The School of Architecture and Allied Arts is the principal center in Oregon for the study of architecture, community and regional planning, and design. The school offers undergraduate and graduate accredited degrees in Eugene and Portland. The ten academic departments and programs include architecture, historic preservation, interior architecture, landscape architecture, planning, public policy and management and product design. A&AA is dedicated to the principles of environmental sustainability, international understanding, and cross-disciplinary education. 

Right:  George McMath was on the first board for restoring the Old Church in Portland. “He pushed and pushed in the early, very difficult days, to get the board established,” Portland architect and 2013 McMath Awardee Hawkins says of McMath. “After his term ended, I was on the board and we continued restoration.”