Newport, RI—The Newport Restoration Foundation (NRF) is announcing the open call for nominations for the 2025 Doris Duke Historic Preservation Awards. The annual Doris Duke Historic Preservation Awards – a joint program of the Newport Restoration Foundation (NRF) and the City of Newport – encourage excellence in historic preservation by recognizing exemplary projects that carry forward the legacy of Doris Duke and have had a significant impact on the preservation of the cultural and historic fabric of Newport, Jamestown, Middletown, and Portsmouth. The deadline for nominations is Friday, May 2, 2025.
Newport Restoration Foundation and the City are calling upon the local community to nominate best practice preservation projects completed within the last three years that have added value to the character of the community. The winners will be acknowledged at an awards event on Friday, September 5, 2025. Please see below for award criteria and how to submit a nomination.
Award Criteria
Eligible recipients are private homeowners; non-profit or for-profit organizations; and federal, state, or local agencies.
- A wide variety of nominations of varying project budgets are encouraged, from small buildings to large; major rehabilitations to minor restorations; landscapes or streetscapes; new technologies and materials; individual or company-level excellence in practice; and education or advocacy initiatives. Particular attention will be paid to projects that include the following criteria:
- Emphasis on craftsmanship
- Incorporation of training the next generation of preservation tradespeople
- Attention to resiliency and energy efficiency
- Excellence in proactive maintenance (painting, roofing, siding repairs, etc.)
- Visible community impact and/or community engagement component
- Advancing community needs
- All work related to the project or initiative must have been completed within the last three (3) years.
- Nominations are welcome from Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, and Jamestown.
- Properties that are currently (or anticipated to be) listed for sale will not be considered.
Further information about the nomination process, including a listing of the information that must be provided in conjunction with a nomination, can be found at newportrestoration.org/DDPA or by emailing Margaret Back, NRF’s Preservation Projects Manager.
