MARCH 4, 2022
(This article originally appeared in the February 2022 edition of The Arch, Landmarks Illinois’ quarterly print newsletter.)
On March 10, Landmarks Illinois will host its PRESERVATION FORWARD event, a redesign of our popular spring fundraiser previously named the Legendary Landmarks Celebration. The reimagining of this event is a response to our 50th anniversary in 2021 when Landmarks Illinois set in motion its bold plans for the future of historic preservation. Our plan is to be more inclusive, engaging and to give communities more say in identifying places that are special to them and worth preserving.
What’s different?
One major change in our spring event is its location. Previously, the celebration took place at the Hilton Chicago. PRESERVATION FORWARD, however, will be held at the Old Post Office in Chicago, a monumental building that was saved with the help of Landmarks Illinois sustained advocacy. After sitting vacant for nearly two decades, an $800 million renovation of the 2.5 million square-foot Old Post Office was completed in 2020.
Something else guests will notice at PRESERVATION FORWARD: a short awards program, giving you more networking opportunities, and cocktails and interactive food stations will replace a sit-down dinner. Guests will also enjoy an after-party featuring desserts from Chicago’s pastry chefs, late-night snacks and music entertainment.
Who are we honoring?
PRESERVATION FORWARD will recognize people joining us in our push to move the preservation field forward, our 2022 Landmarks Illinois Influencers. This year’s honorees are a group of seven women, leaders shaping our communities and inspiring us to rethink how we save places and for whom.
When choosing our 2022 Landmarks Illinois Influencers, we were inspired by our Women Who Built Illinois Database launched in 2021. This first-of-its-kind database includes more than 100 women who shaped Illinois’ built environment from 1879-1979, but often went unrecognized for their work. The first annual PRESERVATION FORWARD continues this effort to call attention to women making a positive impact on their communities and our built environment.
We are honored to call attention to our 2022 Landmarks Illinois Influencers next month at PRESERVATION FORWARD and hope you will join us for the celebration! Visit Landmarks.org/events/preservation-forward to learn more about the event and each of our 2022 Influencers.
2022 Landmarks Illinois Influencers
- Mariah DiGrino, Partner, DLA Piper
- Eleanor Esser Gorski, Executive Director, Cook County Land Bank Authority
- Tiara Hughes, Chicago Landmarks Commissioner, FIRST 500 Founder, SOM Senior Urban Designer
- Cheryl Johnson, Executive Director, People for Community Recovery
- Tonika Lewis Johnson, Social Justice Artist
Stacey Pfingsten, Executive Vice President, American Institute of Architects Illinois - Alicia Ponce, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, Founding Principal, APMonarch
PRESERVATION FORWARD event details
Thursday, March 10, 2022
The Old Post Office
433 W. Van Buren St., Chicago
5:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Reservations & sponsorships available at Landmarks.org/events/preservation-forward
Virtual attendance option available.