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2022 Arkansas Preservation Awards

On January 27, 2023, Preserve Arkansas hosted its annual Arkansas Preservation Awards dinner and program to honor individuals and organizations for projects focused on historic preservation, education, and advocacy throughout the state. Honorees and guests celebrated with a reception and banquet at the Robinson Center in Little Rock, followed by a program recognizing John K. Mott, FAIA, and the award-winning projects. Dr. Ethel Goodstein-Murphree, Associate Dean and Professor of Architecture at the Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design, served as emcee for the event.

See photos from the event here. Please credit all photos to Preserve Arkansas and Stephanie Dunn King Photography.

2022 Parker Westbrook Award Winner

John K. Mott, FAIA
Born and raised at Fort Smith, Arkansas, architect John Mott has been a trusted leader in historic preservation for more than 50 years. After graduating from the University of Arkansas and serving as a naval officer, Mott worked for his father’s architecture firm in Fort Smith, today known as MAHG Architecture, before relocating to Washington, DC. He went on to become Director of Preservation at John Milner Associates, now MTFA Architecture. He has led the MTFA Design + Preservation team on more than 200 restoration and adaptive reuse projects across the country. His notable Arkansas projects include Old Main and Vol Walker Hall at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, the Drennen-Scott and Willhaf houses at Van Buren, and the Clayton House at Fort Smith. For his prolific work in historic preservation and his enthusiasm and willingness to share his expertise with younger generations, Preserve Arkansas was proud to recognize John Mott with the 2022 Parker Westbrook Award for Lifetime Achievement.

2022 Arkansas Preservation Award Recipients

Parker Westbrook Award for Lifetime Achievement	John K. Mott, FAIA, Potomac, MD
Excellence in Heritage Preservation	Washington County Historical Society For the “This Place Matters” campaign
Excellence in Preservation through Rehabilitation – Winner	Buffalo River Historic Jail and Museum, Marshall Owner: Searcy County Architect: Revival Architecture, Inc. Contractor: BWC Builders, Inc.
Excellence in Preservation through Rehabilitation – Honorable Mention	Arts on Main, Van Buren Owner: Arts on Main Architect: MAHG Architecture Contractor: Beshears Construction
Excellence in Preservation through Rehabilitation – Honorable Mention	Karcher House, Little Rock Owner: Kartcher Properties Architect: Scott Smith Contractor: Gardner Custom Homes
Excellence in Preservation through Rehabilitation – Honorable Mention	The Reserve/W.C. Brown House Historic District, Hot Springs Owner: Historic Ventures, LLC Architect: Taylor/Kempkes Architects Contractor: Summit Properties
Excellence in Preservation through Restoration – Winner	Thomas Administration Building, El Dorado Owner: South Arkansas Community College Architect: Taylor/Kempkes Architects Contractor: Flynco Construction Group
Excellence in Preservation through Restoration – Honorable Mention	Powhatan Methodist Church, Powhatan Historic State Park Owner: Arkansas State Parks Architect: WER Architects/Planners Contractor: Wagner General Contractors
Excellence in Preservation through Restoration – Honorable Mention	Arkansas State Treasurer’s Suite, Little Rock Owner: State of Arkansas Architect: Clements and Associates/Architecture, Inc. Contractor: Baldwin & Shell Construction
Outstanding Achievement in Preservation Education	Professor Carl Matthews, UA Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design For his Advanced Design Studios in Hot Springs
Ned Shank Award for Outstanding Preservation Publication	Eureka Springs Historic District Design Guidelines By the Eureka Springs Historic District Commission
Excellence in Personal Projects	Damon and Margaret Reed, Morrow For the Morrow Farmstead
Outstanding Achievement in Adaptive Reuse	Eagle Building/The Grumpy Rabbit American Eatery, Lonoke Owner: Jim and Gina Wiertelak Architect: Ryan Biles Contractor: Hart Construction
Outstanding New Construction in a Historic Setting	Mississippi County Courthouse Rehabilitation and Addition, Blytheville Owner: Mississippi County Architect: Revival Architecture, Inc. Contractor: CNI Construction
Outstanding Achievement in Preservation Advocacy	Patricia Blick, Little Rock For her work with the Quapaw Quarter Association to save Little Rock’s historic places