PRESERVING PLACE: THE SANTA FE SYMPOSIUM
New Mexico History Museum, April 26, 2025, 8:30am-4:30pm
During Heritage Preservation Month in May each year, many of the preservation organizations in Santa Fe play an active role in recognizing those who contribute to the field while others produce materials or events to celebrate our heritage, preservation and the tradition of earthen building in New Mexico. The City of Santa Fe, Historic Santa Fe Foundation, and Old Santa Fe Association host an awards ceremony at San Miguel Chapel to recognize architects, homeowners, and important professionals. The State Historic Preservation Office’s Cultural Properties Review Committee has hosted their awards ceremony for over 50 years. Cornerstones Community Partnerships makes adobe bricks in the downtown area to be used in their many projects in communities who need assistance with their historic preservation projects, always keeping their vision in mind and honoring their cultural heritage.
For 2025, Historic Santa Fe Foundation is honored to partner with the New Mexico Museum of History and numerous organizations to produce the Preservation Month Symposium — Preserving Place: The Santa Fe Symposium — a Preservation Month preview event that offers a day-long program for the community, our respective organizational membership, and the public relating to preservation, its relevance, and its challenges.
The partners in this event are: Historic Santa Fe Foundation, New Mexico History Museum, the State Historic Preservation Office, Old Santa Fe Association, City of Santa Fe Historic Preservation Division, Pueblo of Tesuque, Friends of Architecture, AIA Santa Fe, and Cornerstones Community Partnerships.
Schedule for Saturday, April 26 8:30am-4:30pm
At the designated check-in table located in the lobby of the New Mexico History Museum, attendees will receive a wristband for all-day access. Attendees may drop in and out of the talks, but we encourage entry at the beginning of each panel or lecture to avoid disturbances.
8:30-8:55am | Check-in at the New Mexico History Museum lobby.
At the designated check-in table located in the lobby of the New Mexico History Museum, attendees will receive a wristband for all-day access. Attendees may drop in and out of the talks, but we encourage entry at the beginning of each panel or lecture to avoid disturbances.
9am | Welcome and announcements
9:15-10:20 am | Old Santa Fe Association and Historic Santa Fe Foundation: Our History and Future
Panelists: Edward Archuleta (OSFA), Randy Bell (OSFA), Melanie McWhorter (HSFF), Mac Watson (HSFF).
In 2026, Old Santa Fe Association (OSFA) will be celebrating their 100th anniversary. Historic Santa Fe Foundation was initially founded in 1961 as a nonprofit organization by many of the members of Old Santa Fe Association. In 2024, OSFA announced their transition to a 501(c)3. With this shift, the Board, staff, members, and supporters of both organizations see the need to delineate and define the missions, projects, and programs of each group to distinguish one from the other. With this panel, OSFA and HSFF discuss their respective histories, the current structure of each group, their programs and projects, and receive questions from the audience to provide more clarity on each organization.
10:30-11:40am | Archeology and Preservation in Downtown Santa Fe’s Historic Districts
Panelist: Former Tesuque Governor Mark Mitchell and archeologist Steve Post moderated by Historic Preservation Manager Gary Moquino.
Description coming soon
11:40am-12:40pm | Lunch Break (off-site and on your own)
12:45pm-1:55pm | State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) Role in State and National Preservation
Panelists: SHPO staff Karla McWilliams, Steven Moffson, and Matt Saionz.
This presentation will provide an introduction to the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division programs. The talk will discuss tax credits, funding options, and levels of historic designation. Karla McWilliams is the Deputy Director of the NMHPD and formerly served as CLG and Grants Coordinator. She will speak on grant funding and the Certified Local Government program. Steven Moffson is a historian with the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division and he will discuss the National and State Register. Matt Saionz is a historian with the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division. He will talk about how he manages the tax credit program and coordinates the state historic marker program.
2:05-3:20pm | Architectural Design in Santa Fe with Santa Fe AIA
Panelists: Shawn Evans, AIA, Richard Martinez, AIA, Beverley Spears, FAIA, and Gayla Bechtol, AIA.
AIA Santa Fe is the local component of the American Institute of Architects, the national professional organization serving architects in the United States. Members must be registered architects; associate members must be working toward registration. This 15-minute presentation will be followed by discussion between panelists and the audience.
3:30pm-4:20pm | The Future of Preservation in Santa Fe (A facilitated audience discussion)
Presented by Anthony Guida, president of Friends of Architecture Santa Fe.
The City Different has taken many approaches to preservation over the last 120 years - revivalism, speculative restoration, design controls, and historic protections, to name a few. A facilitated audience discussion will imagine the future of preservation in Santa Fe, informed by our past successes, current challenges, and collective ambitions.
4:20pm | Closing remarks
SPONSORS & PARTNERS
TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION/SPONSORSHIP CATEGORIES
$3,000.00 - Co-Sponsor
Individual or business name (large logo) listed in the printed schedule, signage, and all HSFF promotion of the event including announcements at the event. Tax-deductible donation.
$1,500.00 - Joint Sponsor
Individual or business name (small logo) listed in the printed schedule, signage, and all HSFF promotion of the event including announcements at the event. Tax-deductible donation.
$500.00 - Supporter Sponsor
Individual or business name (no logo) listed in the printed schedule, signage, and all HSFF promotion of the event including announcements at the event. Tax-deductible donation.
2025 Santa Fe Heritage Preservation Awards Ceremony & Reception
Thursday, May 15 • Ceremony at San Miguel Chapel, 401 Old Santa Fe Trail from 5:30-7pm
Reception at El Zaguán, 545 Canyon Road following the ceremony
Sponsored by the City of Santa Fe, Old Santa Fe Association, and Historic Santa Fe Foundation. In collaboration with San Miguel Chapel.
Every May, state and national agencies, local foundations, and city departments associated with the honorable commitment to the preservation of architectural and cultural history celebrate Preservation Month. For this 53nd year, the City of Santa Fe’s Historic Preservation Division, the Old Santa Fe Association, and the Historic Santa Fe Foundation applaud the commitment and contributions by the award recipients to Santa Fe’s unique style, history, and heritage. The Heritage Preservation Awards ceremony will take place at San Miguel Chapel, 401 Old Santa Fe Trail, on May 15, 2024, from 5:30pm-7:00pm. A reception will be held at El Zaguán, 545 Canyon Road, following the ceremony.
2025 Heritage Preservation Awards will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on May 15, 2025.
2024 Awardees listed at bottom of this page.
______________________
Photographs by Melanie West.
2024 SF Heritage Preservation Awards Ceremony Schedule and Awardees from May 9, 2024
5:30 PM Opening Remarks
Welcome to San Miguel Chapel by Chapel Director Laurianne Fiorentino Ceremony introduction and a traditional Tewa prayer by Gary Moquino, City of Santa Fe Historic Preservation Division Manager
City of Santa Fe Historic Preservation Division Award Recipients
Service Award- Presented by Heather Lamboy
Recipient: Melissa Byers
Architectural Preservation Award- Presented by John Bienvenu (HDRB Member)
401 Old Santa Fe Trail • Recipients: St. Michael's High School, Cornerstones Community Partnerships, and Positive Energy Solar
Compatible Remodel Award- Presented by Madeliene Aguilar Medrano (HDRB Member)
224 Maynard Street • Recipients: John Hertz
Compatible New Construction Award- Presented by David Valdo (HDRB Member)
655 Alto Street • Recipients: John Utton and DNCA Architects
Archaeology Award - Presented by David Eck (ARC Chair)
Recipients: Richard Montoya and Karen Wening
Cultural Preservation Award- Presented by Cecilia Rios (HDRB Chair)
Recipient: Olive Rush Memorial Studio
Mayor’s Award- Presented by Carol Romero Wirth (City Councilor, District 2)
Santa Fe Train Depot Historic Renovation • Recipients: City of Santa Fe Facilities Division, Woven Architecture, LLC, and Davenport Construction Management
Old Santa Fe Association Award Recipients
Award for Preservation and Contribution to the Historic Streetscape- presented by Randall Bell
650 Canyon Road • recipient: Douglas Maahs, Maahs Construction
Sara Melton Award- presented by Adam Fulton Johnson
Our lady of Guadalupe cemetery • Recipients: Rosario Torres with Ted Yamada, Richard Fox, Jim and Kris Doris, Mona Baca, and Theresa Trujillo
Sensitive Restoration Award- John Eddy
340 Delgado Street • Recipient: Doug and Patrick McDowell, McDowell fine homes
Historic Santa Fe Foundation Award Recipients
Architectural Stewardship Award- Presented by Melanie McWhorter
Amelia Hollenback House, 901 Camino San Acacio • Recipients: Temple and Mickey Ashmore
Reception
Following the ceremony, please join us at HSFF's EL Zaguán, 545 Canyon Road to celebrate the award recipients. Assorted finger foods will be served.
About Our Host, San Miguel Chapel
San Miguel Chapel has been owned by the nonprofit, private Saint Michael's High School and the Christian Brothers Educational Foundation since 1859. It has never been owned by the Santa Fe Archdiocese. Since the Chapel is sanctified and is not a business, there is no required entrance fee. Sole support for the constant and forever maintenance of this beloved 100% adobe (mud) structure has always come from local and worldwide community who want to preserve the chapel for another 400 years and for future generations. Learn more at https://www.sanmiguelchapelsantafe.org/.