2026 Rhody Awardees Announced

Preserve Rhode Island is thrilled to announce today the 10 recipients of the 2026 Rhody Awards for Historic Preservation. As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, it’s more important than ever to recognize the work that ensures that Rhode Island remains a treasure trove of history. This year’s awardees demonstrate diverse approaches to preservation — from landmark-saving brick-and-mortar restoration projects, creating guidelines to better inform future preservation efforts, or mapping precious history that would otherwise be lost.

An independent jury of historians, architects, developers, community leaders, and preservationists had the difficult task of narrowing down the nominations to only 10 finalists.

“This year’s awardees are proof that preservation is at the crossroads of many relevant problems in today’s world. Let these awardees show that preservation is good for our housing, our local economies, and our souls.”

-Ruth Taylor, Interim Executive Director

The 18th annual Rhody Awards will take place at the WaterFire Arts Center in Providence on Sunday, October 25^th from 4 to 7 PM. Buy your tickets today!

The 2026 Rhody Awardees are:

Neal Kaplan – Stephen J. Tyson Sr. Artisan Award

Starting his company, Neal Estate, in 1986, Neal Kaplan has spent the past 4 decades restoring historic properties in Providence with the upmost care and attention to detail. His craftsmanship and command over preservation technologies has made him a resource to many, something he made more widely accessible during his 20 years serving on the Providence Historic District Commission.

Michael Semenza - Frederick C. Williamson Professional Award

Salve Regina University would not look the same if it were not for Michael Semenza. His commitment to protecting and stewarding the campus’s collection of historic properties was unmatched, and his role as a fundraiser is a crucial part of the historic preservation equation. Examples of Michael’s work include securing a $202k grant from the J. Paul Getty Trust and receiving the prestigious Arthur Ross Award for Stewardship from the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art.

Gillian Lang and Edward Lloyd (Providence) - Homeowner Award

Homeowners Gillian Lang and Edward Lloyd fell in love with the John Truman House, a charming Georgian home located just off Benefit Street in Providence. The building came with a quirk, however, with a significant bow in the front of the house that was causing windows to pop out. Edward Lloyd also owns Kerf LLC, a workshop focusing on residential woodwork and preservation, and was able to tackle the project. The home’s exterior shines today as an example of careful restoration.

Millrace District (Woonsocket) – Preservation Project Award

At the entrance to Main Street in downtown Woonsocket, this project by Neighborworks Blackstone River Valley revitalized three historic mill buildings into 70 new housing units, ranging from 30% to 100% average median income requirements. This project also prioritizes mixed development, with commercial spaces available and the nearby Millrace Kitchen and Museum of Work and Culture. This project received state historic tax credits.

Agassiz Mansion/Castle Hill Inn (Newport) – Community Impact Award

In early February of 2026, the Agassiz Mansion at Castle Hill was on fire, literally. Despite challenges such as a historic blizzard, the team at Kirby Perkins Construction was able to repair the building within three months. Restoration work included replication of damaged butternut wood features in the bar area, saving as much of the original woodwork as possible, and carefully restoring the exterior.

Windmill Building (Narragansett) - Community Impact Award

The Windmill Building in Narragansett has served multiple roles over the course of its history, including as a private residence and infirmary for the Jewish Orphans of Rhode Island summer camp. Threatened with demolition in 2019, the Narragansett Historical Society took on the grand task of saving this unique “folly” building. Thanks to an extensive fundraising effort to renovate the property, the site can now serve as NHS’s permanent home.

Lead Paint Adaptation and Mitigation (Newport) - Community Impact Award

In response to the expansion of lead safety requirements in Rhode Island, the Newport Restoration Foundation, with support from the City of Newport, contracted Heritage Restoration to research how to get historic properties to meet code. The end result was two handbooks, one for homeowners and one for building professionals, that have been adopted at the statewide level. These handbooks have been critical resources for those getting their historic rental properties up-to-code.

Urban Renewal Guide (Providence) – Community Impact Award

Urban renewal is an important topic when discussing the full American story, and Providence Preservation Society’s guide is one of the few in-depth overviews of how urban renewal has shaped an entire city. This resource is critical to understanding the Providence we know of today, while both serving as a foundation for further research and as a reference in current/future land use battles.

Providence Art Club (Providence) – Stewardship Award

If you have visited Providence, you are familiar with the four historic buildings stewarded by the Providence Art Club, a non-profit organization founded 146 years ago. Over the course of those years, numerous improvements were made to the buildings to adapt their use for the organization, all while preserving the impressive exteriors for the public’s benefit. Most recently, the Art Club has embarked on an exterior restoration of the iconic Fleur-De Lys Studio, a National Historic Landmark.

The Old State House (Providence) – Stewardship Award

In time for America 250, the RI Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission (RIHPHC) has completed a multi-year $10 million investment in its headquarters, the Old State House (1762). Improvements include upgraded systems (including geothermal heating and cooling), a restored interior/exterior, and an expanded National Register nomination. The RIHPHC has stewarded the building for over 50 years and will continue to do so for years to come.