LOS ANGELES, March 9, 2026—The Los Angeles Conservancy is pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 Preservation Awards, recognizing exceptional achievement in the field of historic preservation in Los Angeles County. The breadth of projects reflects a wide range of efforts to preserve L.A. County’s cultural and architectural heritage that foster stronger communities and resilience. Winning projects will be honored at an awards program on Tuesday, April 14th, at The Ebell of Los Angeles on Wilshire Boulevard. Individual tickets start at $225 per person and sponsorship opportunities are available at laconservancy.org/reserve.

For nearly forty-five years, the L.A. Conservancy has celebrated some of Los Angeles County’s most noteworthy efforts to preserve architecturally and culturally significant historic resources—showcasing the role of historic places as active community solutions.

“The 2026 Preservation Award recipients remind us that historic preservation is not simply about honoring the history and heritage of Los Angeles; all of these projects are agents of change meeting the moment,” says Adrian Scott Fine, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Conservancy. “From restoring beloved local landmarks to relocating homes for families displaced by recent fires, these projects show that preservation can provide safety, stability, hope, and resilience. When we save places, we strengthen the communities that depend on them.”

Each year, an independent jury of experts in architecture, preservation, and community development selects a distinguished group of projects demonstrating outstanding achievement in historic preservation.

2026 Preservation Award Recipients

CHAIR AWARD WINNER

Historic House Relocation Project, Los Angeles County
An innovative house-moving program that saves at-risk older houses from demolition and turns them into homes for families displaced by wildfires, serving as a vivid reminder that preservation creates hope and much-needed housing.

PROJECT WINNERS

Charlotte and Robert Disney Bungalow, Los Feliz
A faithful restoration of an important site from Walt Disney’s early career preserves history and underscores how preservation—when executed thoughtfully—can reveal the profound stories embedded in everyday bungalows.

El Paradiso, Studio City
This meticulous restoration of the Albert Grossman House honors Raphael Soriano’s California Modernist vision and breathes new life into an innovative mid-century design.

El Rodeo Elementary School, Beverly Hills
A masterful rehabilitation of a school’s historic Spanish Renaissance Revival architecture and seismic retrofit creates a resilient, inspiring school for future generations of students.

Little Tokyo Towers, Little Tokyo
Uniting preservation, seismic resilience, and financial innovation, this project ensures long-term housing stability for community seniors and an entire community.

Stanley Burke’s, Sherman Oaks
A thorough restoration of the Googie diner Stanley Burke’s honors Helen Liu Fong’s legacy while welcoming a new chapter as a national franchise.

UCLA Powell Library, Westwood
Through visionary rehabilitation and seismic strengthening, this literary icon at the heart of UCLA campus life will inspire generations of Bruins to come.

The Union on Garey, Pomona
A long-neglected historic YMCA becomes a revitalized cultural hub, honoring its architectural heritage and role as an inclusive gathering place for the community.

USC Dick Wolf Drama Center, University Park
A historic church is reborn as a vibrant, state-of-the-art drama center, uniting USC performing arts programs in an inclusive, sustainable home that enriches community life and champions adaptive reuse.

The 2026 Preservation Awards will be held on Wednesday, April 14 at The Ebell of Los Angeles. This annual celebration is a rare opportunity for hundreds of business and community leaders to hear inspirational stories of how historic preservation strengthens communities and fosters economic development. Banc of California returns as Presenting Sponsor of the Preservation Awards.

Preservation Award recipients are selected by an independent jury of leading experts in architecture, historic preservation, and community development, comprising of jury chair, John Bwarie, CEO, Stratiscope, and jurors, Amy Bodek, AICP, Director of Regional Planning, County of Los Angeles; Lauren Johnson, Marketing Director, Jerico Development / West Harbor; San Pedro Chamber of Commerce; Sonya Kolowrat, Music industry executive, Community Preservation Advocate, Founder losangelesterrazzo.com; and R. Steven Lewis, FAIA, National Organization of Minority Architects Council.

About the Preservation Awards
Since 1982, the Los Angeles Conservancy has honored excellence in historic preservation through its annual Preservation Awards. The awards are selected by an independent jury of experts in architecture, historic preservation, and community development.
Award recipients range widely, from sensitive restoration, rehabilitation, and adaptive reuse projects, to groundbreaking advocacy and education efforts by individuals and groups.

About the Los Angeles Conservancy
The Los Angeles Conservancy is a nonprofit membership organization that works through education and advocacy to recognize, preserve, and revitalize the historic architectural and cultural resources of Los Angeles County. What began as a volunteer group in 1978 now has 4,500 member households, the largest membership of any local preservation organization in the U.S.

Media Contact: 
Lisett Chavarela
Director of Communications
Los Angeles Conservancy
lchavarela@laconservancy.org