Michael Holly and Jeffrey Smith receive Preservation Awards
June 2, 2009
Michael Holly and Jeffrey Smith have been selected as Preservation Awards Recipients by The Foundation for Historical Louisiana. The awards will be presented at the Foundation’s preservation Awards Banquet set for Thursday evening, July 30, 2009. This will be the 32nd anniversary of these prestigious presentations.
A passion for historic preservation informs both the professional achievements and personal commitments of Michael Holly and Jeffrey Smith, principals at Holly & Smith Architects of Hammond, La.
Over the past three decades, Michael and Jeffrey have played important roles in the revitalization of historic downtown Hammond, an area now nationally recognized by the Main Street Program as an example of how to protect and rejuvenate a historic downtown. Michael and Jeffery have each served as chairmen of the Historic District Commission, as members of the Hammond Downtown Development District (HDDD) and in leadership roles with other civic organizations that support historic preservation and heritage activities.
They were part of their community’s revival from the very beginning, crafting the master plan commissioned by the HDDD in the 1980s to guide its resurgence. More recently, they have helped update that plan as HDDD members.
Their firm Holly & Smith is responsible for more than 35 historic building renovations in downtown Hammond, all of which complied with historic district guidelines and most of which received historic preservation tax credits. The once-neglected buildings they have brought back into commerce now include busy shops and offices, treasured homes and points of pride for their community. Their work has earned numerous awards, including recognition for the renovation of the Columbia Theatre, considered by many to be a crown jewel of the Northshore region’s architectural heritage.
Their shared commitment to historic preservation extends to the investments they have made in purchasing and renovating their own historic buildings, projects completed in compliance with National Park Service regulations. For instance, to rehabilitate the historic Morgan and Lindsey Building, Michael and Jeffery worked with the Louisiana Historic Preservation Office to update the Hammond Historic District to include Art Deco-era structures. The completed Morgan and Lindsey Building project earned a Main Street Award for Best Adaptive Reuse.
Michael and Jeffrey respectfully accept this honor, though also wish to acknowledge that credit for the enormous value of adaptive reuse begins with the architects, builders and owners who originally created buildings significant enough to survive the rigors of time and the changing of architectural styles.
