Projects in Belvidere and Waukegan take home preservation awards

An affordable apartment complex in Belvidere and a museum in Waukegan are winners of the 2025 Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards.

The awards recognize nine different projects around the state for efforts in sustainability, reuse and community impact, according to a press release.

“Our 2025 award winners highlight the power of preservation to address community needs,” said Bonnie McDonald, President & CEO of Landmarks Illinois. “They inspire us and others across the state to think boldly about how our built environment can adapt to serve people today while sparking local economic development and fueling pride of place.”

In Belvidere, Gorman & Company’s Pearl Place Apartments won the “Award for Preservation.” The affordable housing developer undertook a major restoration of the building, located at 520 Pearl Street.

Pearl Place now offers 56 affordable, renovated apartments for residents 55 and older after the developer ensured it did not turn into market-rate housing.

The Waukegan History Museum at The Carnegie, located at 1 N. Sheridan Road, won the foundation’s “Award for Rehabilitation.” A $15 million effort led by the Waukegan Park District and the Waukegan Historical Society turned the old library building into a new local history museum.

Other winners include the Coles County Courthouse in Charleston, Friends of Historic Second Church in Chicago, the National Public Housing Museum in Chicago, the Pui Tak Center of the Chinese Christian Union Church in Chicago, the Edison Ave Art Lofts in Granite City, Friends of the Old Millstadt Water Tower in Millstadt and Banging Gavel Brews in Tinley Park.