One of the winners was Crown Brew Coffee Co. in Marion, Ill.

“Rarely are there buildings in southern Illinois to receive the distinction,” said Jared Gravatt, co-owner of the coffee shop. “We are honored to showcase an older building that has been revitalized.”

Gravatt said he and his co-owner, Joshua Benitone, designed the space and built its features, including the coffee bar. They also saved wood laths from the walls and turned them into an art piece that hangs behind the bar.

“We salvaged things instead of throwing them away,” he said.

Bonnie McDonald, president and CEO of Landmarks, said adaptive reuse of older buildings is appreciated, especially by younger generations.

“There is a large group of people, especially under 40, who enjoy spending time in places that have a history or a story,” she said.

The following is a list of winners:

Hotel Belleville

The 91-year-old former Hotel Belleville has been rehabilitated into an affordable housing development called Lofts on the Square. Owners MH Belleville Associates LP undertook the $14.6-million transformation of the historic Art Deco-style hotel, a 2014 Landmarks Illinois Most Endangered site. The project, located in the city of Belleville, is cited as an example of the power of sustained advocacy efforts as well as public-private collaboration.

Chicago Cultural Center Grand Army of the

Republic Rooms

The Grand Army of the Republic Rooms, completed in 1897 in Chicago’s cultural district, underwent a $15-million restoration to preserve and honor the original features designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany and Healy & Millet. The project, which spanned more than two years, was led by the City of Chicago Dept. of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Harboe Architects and Berglund Construction.

Photo courtesy of Tom Harris

Lincoln Park Zoo Pepper Family Wildlife Center

Lincoln Park Zoo’s historic lion house has been reborn as the Pepper Family Wildlife Center following a $41-million rehabilitation and expansion. This Chicago landmark, constructed in 1912 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places, has been restored to its original Arts and Crafts-style appearance and now features improved animal habitats and provides an immersive and fully accessible space for visitors.

Mattie Butler Apartments

Longtime Chicago housing activist Mattie Butler and her organization, Woodlawn East Community and Neighbors (WECAN), collaborated with Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) to guarantee the long-term affordability of two 1920s Woodlawn apartment buildings. After the apartments were initially saved in the 1990s by WECAN, POAH obtained the property in 2017 and in 2022 celebrated the completion of the $26.8-million renovation of the renamed Mattie Butler Apartments.

Pullman National Monument And State Historic Site

This award honors six organizations and federal agencies for their work in Chicago’s Pullman community that led to the creation of the 12-acre Pullman National Monument and Historic Site and the $35-million rehabilitation of the long-vacant Pullman Administration-Clock Tower Building (now the Pullman Visitor Center). Recipients of the award are: the National Park Service, Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources, Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives, National Parks Foundation, Positioning Pullman Project Team and Historic Pullman Foundation.

Lock & Mule

Local residents and business owners Inga Carus and Peter Limberger renovated the vacant former Mackin Motor Co. Building in Lockport’s downtown historic district to open Lock & Mule, a craft brewery, restaurant and event venue. The adaptive reuse of the 7,000-sq-ft building—constructed in 1927 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places—received support from the city of Lockport and has contributed to the revitalization of the downtown area.

Photo courtesy of Crown Brew Coffee

Crown Brew Coffee Co.

Crown Brew Coffee Co. opened in October 2020 in a 120-year-old building in downtown Marion that owners Joshua Benitone and Jared Gravatt rehabilitated largely on their own. As the first business to open in a city-led downtown revitalization effort, the coffee shop serves as an example of what is possible when local governments and business owners join efforts to drive economic development.

Broadgauge

Built in 1872 as a “megastore” selling hardware, groceries and dry goods, the Broadgauge Building in downtown Petersburg has been reopened and reimagined by owner Douglas Pope. Today, the multipurpose building includes a bar, restaurant, billiards room, event space and coffee shop, drawing the community back into the historic space and becoming one of the town’s largest employers.

Rockford City Market

The nonprofit Rock River Development Partnership adaptively reused three vacant storefronts at historic buildings in downtown Rockford to create new business and event space. Conceived as an indoor extension of the existing outdoor Rockford City Market, the transformation of these properties as year-round market facilities has brought new life to downtown Rockford’s streetscape and economy, attracting residents and visitors alike, hosting community events and providing opportunities for collaboration.