INDIANAPOLIS – On June 1, Indiana Landmarks presented awards for Central Indiana preservation projects. The awards are in five categories (see
addendum for additional information on each winner):

Angie’s List Old House Rehab Award — Paul and Emily Ehrgott for the renovation of the 1886 McShane House at 10000 Westfield Boulevard in Clay Township near Carmel

Outstanding Restoration Award — Indianapolis Public Library for its rehabilitation of the East Washington Street Branch Library, built in 1910 at 2822 East Washington Street

Outstanding Restoration Award — Jail Property, LLC for the old Boone County Jail and Sheriff’s Residence, built in 1938 at 104 W. Washington St. in Lebanon

Continued Use Award — Franklin Heritage, Inc. for its restoration and ongoing management of the 1922 Artcraft Theatre just north of the courthouse square in Franklin

Adaptive Use Award — Van Rooy Properties  for Temple Lofts, an adaptation of Philips Temple CME Church, constructed in 1924 at 1226 Dr. Martin Luther King Street.

Following the awards presentation in The Toby at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Indiana Modern affinity group presented a talk by Architecture Professor Dale Gyure, “Serenity, Surprise, and Delight: The Humanist Architecture of Minoru Yamasaki.” Yamasaki’s controversial style merged modern materials and functional concerns with historical elements from Western and Japanese traditions. His work emphasized the importance of human needs and desires like “serenity, surprise, and delight,” something Yamasaki felt was lacking in modernist architecture. Yamasaki (1912-1986) made the cover of Time in 1963.

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ADDENDUM ON AWARD WINNERS

Angie’s List Old House Rehab Award — Paul and Emily Ehrgott restored the McShane House at 10000 Westfield Boulevard in Clay Township near Carmel. Indiana Landmarks bought the vacant, deteriorated 1886 Italianate house at auction in 2013 to prevent demolition and sold it to the Ehrgotts. The Ehrgotts restored the original siding, brackets, and trim, and reconstructed the missing front porch. Inside, the couple preserved the vernacular features of the farmhouse, including built-ins and hardwood floors, with a new kitchen and laundry room. Paul and Emily Ehrgott will accept the Angie’s List Old House Rehab award from Sarah Branham of Angie’s List.

Outstanding Restoration Award — Indianapolis Public Library for its renovation of the 1910 East Washington Street Branch Library, combining a functional but unobtrusive addition with faithful preservation of historic features. Designed by the firm of Foltz & Parker, the building at 2822 E. Washington St. features noteworthy sculptures by the master craftsman Alexander Sangernebo. The $2.4 million project restored the original circulation desk, created a new computer lab and children’s programming space, and made the building accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The rehab ensures the continued service of one of two functioning Carnegie libraries in Indianapolis. Jackie Nytes, CEO of the Indianapolis Public Library and Doriene Smither, Manager of the East Washington Street Branch will accept the award.

Outstanding Restoration Award — Jail Property, LLC for restoring the former Boone County Jail and Sheriff’s Residence at 104 W. Washington St. in Lebanon. The challenging structure built in 1938 enjoys new life as Cell Block 104 Restaurant and Boone County Jail Distillery while retaining most of its original features. Even the jail cells remain in place, housing cozy dining booths instead of prisoners. The project revived the formerly vacant structure on Lebanon’s courthouse square, a comeback supported in part by funding from the City of Lebanon’s Downtown Historic District Façade Grant Program. Lisa Pellam will accept the award for Sean and Beth Stoller, principals in Jail Property, LLC.

Continued Use Award — Franklin Heritage won for the restoration and management of the Artcraft Theatre at 57 N. Main St., a block north of the Johnson County courthouse square in Franklin. Opened in 1922, the Artcraft screened movies continuously until 1997. The nonprofit preservation group bought the vacant landmark in 2004 and reopened it as a one-screen movie-house and performance center. Retaining many late Art Deco features from a 1948 remodeling, the Artcraft Theatre not only saved a single building, but breathed new life into the downtown area, resulting in additional investment and new businesses. Recent highlights of the ongoing renovation include the restoration of interior murals, the rehabilitation of the stage, and the restoration of the theater’s marquee and blade sign. Rob Shilts, Executive Director of Franklin Heritage, Inc., will accept the award.

Adaptive Use Award — Van Rooy Properties takes the adaptive use prize for transforming the 1924 Philips Temple CME Church into Temple Lofts. The African American church operated continuously until 1992, when the congregation relocated. After a period as Revival Temple Church, Indianapolis Public Schools bought it and twice applied to the city for a demolition permit. Indiana Landmarks included the temple on its 10 Most Endangered list in 2013. Van Rooy Properties saved the neglected landmark from decay and almost certain demolition in 2016 by converting it to 16 market-rate apartments and building a new structure on the property with 24 apartments. Adam Van Rooy, President, and Russ Seiler, Vice President of Finance and Development, will accept the award for Van Rooy Properties.

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Media contacts:
Mark Dollase, Indiana Landmarks Vice President of Preservation Services, 317-639-4534, mdollase@indianalandmarks.org
Tina Connor, Indiana Landmarks Executive Vice President, 317-822-7903, 317-946-3127 (cell), tconnor@indianalandmarks.org
Jen Thomas, 317-441-2487, jen@jtprinc.com

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Indiana Landmarks, a private nonprofit organization, has worked for half a century saving historic places and using preservation as a catalyst to revitalize communities. What started as a small, all-volunteer group has grown to the largest statewide preservation group in the U.S., with 6,200 members and a staff of 36 in nine offices around Indiana. For more information on Indiana Landmarks, call 317-639-4534, 800-450-4534, or visit www.indianalandmarks.org.