2025
Chattanooga Preservation Awards

Preserve Chattanooga seeks to recognize people and projects for the outstanding rehabilitation, restoration, preservation, adaptive reuse and/or long-term stewardship of historically significant places in Chattanooga and Hamilton County.

The Preservation Project of the Year Award honors outstanding restoration, rehabilitation, or conservation of a historic building or site. The transformation of the Chattanooga Bank Building into a new Waymark Hotel is a gift to our city. Designed by Reuben Harrison Hunt, this building opened in 1929, but sat empty for years. Developed by HKS Holdings with design leadership from HK Architects, the Waymark project is an excellent example of rehabilitating a historic building into a new use, one that will benefit our city for years to come.

The Preservation Stewardship Award recognizes those who have ensured the ongoing preservation of a historic building, structure, or site through long-term care and continuous ownership for a minimum of five years. This year’s award is presented to Second Presbyterian Church for their ongoing care of their R H Hunt designed building that has stood at the corner of Pine and W. 7th Streets since 1890.

The President’s Award was presented by Preserve Chattanooga Board President, Dr. Dana Moody. The Park Hotel, another R H Hunt designed building from 1915, ceased being a hotel in 1963. In 1981 the exterior was sheathed in a modern metal façade. Thanks to the efforts of Southern Spear Properties, the façade that was hidden for over four decades can be seen again.

The Heritage Interpretation Award for initiatives that use historic sites to promote cultural tourism and economic development was presented to Jim Ogden, the former superintendent of the Chattanooga National Military Park and now the park historian.

The Residential Preservation Award recognizes the restoration or sensitive renovation of a historic home. This year’s award recognizes Daryl Smith of Hope Restoration for the 4812 Alabama Avenue project in the historic St. Elmo neighborhood.

The Preservation Leadership Award is given to individuals or organizations demonstrating leadership in preservation efforts. This year’s award was presented to Ann Gray, who retired as the Executive Director of Cornerstones, Inc. in 2011. Ann provided preservation expertise to this community for three decades.

The Commercial Preservation Award is for businesses that preserve and reuse historic commercial buildings. This year recognizes White Duck Taco for their McCallie Avenue project that not just repurposed an old space but invested in a neighborhood.

The Preservation Education Award was presented to Dr. Dana Moody. Dr. Moody has been with the UTC Interior Architecture and Design department since 2000 and is currently a Full Professor and Coordinator of the Historic Preservation Minor.