Preservation Houston, Houston Mod, National Trust for Historic Preservation, AIA Houston and Houston Arts & Media are sharing the Docomomo US Advocacy Award of Excellence for the coordinated effort to promote the preservation and repurposing of the Harris County Domed Stadium, better known as the Astrodome.
Docomomo US (International Committee for the Documentation and Conservation of Building, Sites and Neighborhoods of the Modern Movement-U.S.) is dedicated to the preservation of modern architecture, landscape and design through advocacy, education and documentation. One of the organization's 2015 Modernism in America Awards, the Docomomo US Advocacy Award of Excellence highlights the importance of modern building types and focuses attention on the intense efforts often required to preserve these structures in meaningful and productive ways.
Astrodome supporters during the Save the Dome effort in 2013. / photo by Stephanie Ann Jones
Docomomo US cited the Save the Dome Public Education Effort for its multi-faceted approach that used social media and community outreach to engage local residents and educate the public about the Astrodome's significance as the world's first climate-controlled stadium. The Docomomo US board noted the tremendous effort involved in promoting the Dome's preservation and the influence that Houston's cooperative initiative will have on future endeavors to preserve other domes and stadiums.
An independent jury of national preservation and modern design authorities selected the award recipients. The 2015 Modernism in America Awards will be presented during the Docomomo US National Symposium in Minneapolis in June.
In addition to the Advocacy Award, the 2015 Modernism in America Awards include a Design Award of Excellence for the restoration of Eero Saarinen's TWA Flight Center at JFK International Airport in New York and a Citation of Merit for the renovation of I.M.Pei's East Building for the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.