Pillar of New York Awards
For over 25 years, the Preservation League of New York State has celebrated individuals and organizations who have taken extraordinary steps to protect, preserve, and promote New York’s cultural and architectural heritage. These are the true believers in the power of preservation – those who understand that preserving our past ensures a vibrant, more sustainable future.
Save the date for the 2026 Pillar Awards Gala
Tuesday, May 19, 2026 | The Rainbow Room in NYC
The 2026 Honorees
The Community Preservation Corporation (CPC)
A national leader in community revitalization and affordable housing finance, CPC has spent over five decades investing in sustainable, inclusive neighborhoods across New York and beyond. By creatively adapting historic buildings for modern use, CPC harnesses the power of preservation to create affordable housing, strengthen communities, and revitalize treasured spaces.
The Visionary Leadership Team of the NYC LGBTQ Historic Sites Project – Andrew S. Dolkart, Ken Lustbader, Jay Shockley & Amanda Davis
This remarkable team has transformed how New Yorkers and the world understand LGBTQ history through documentation, advocacy, and public engagement. Their combined expertise in architecture, preservation, design, and community activism ensures that these historic sites are recognized, preserved, and celebrated. Their groundbreaking work documents historic places connected to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in New York City, from the 17th century to the year 2000, and tells the often untold story of their influence on American history and culture.
The Assembly House
The Assembly House is an experimental work of art and architecture envisioned by artist/architect Dennis Maher that transforms a historic former church in Buffalo, NY into an ‘architectural dreamworld’ for the building arts. It is a site for the public imagination that instills joy and enthusiasm for the built environment. The project synthesizes many themes of Maher’s work by bringing together art, architecture, design, preservation, and construction while creating an otherworldly destination and center for hands-on learning.
Click here to see a full list of past honorees
The Pillar of New York Awards Gala is the League’s largest annual fundraising event – with proceeds directly supporting the League’s statewide efforts to advance preservation throughout the year. By attending, you will be contributing to vital advocacy, technical assistance, and educational initiatives that ensure the preservation of our state’s historic places for future generations.