EACH YEAR, SAVE OUR HERITAGE ORGANISATION honors the people, organizations, public agencies, and homeowners whose vision and dedication ensure that San Diego County’s historic places continue to enrich our communities. The People In Preservation Awards celebrate those whose work reminds us that while preservation is about protecting our historic places and buildings it is also about stewarding the places that tell our collective story.
The 2026 People In Preservation Award recipients exemplify preservation in its fullest sense. This year’s honorees include individuals whose decades of leadership have shaped the preservation movement, homeowners who embraced the responsibility of caring for significant historic residences, skilled professionals who restored architectural landmarks with outstanding craftsmanship, and public agencies that invested in the long-term future of some of San Diego’s most treasured civic buildings.
Together, these projects demonstrate that preservation is not about resisting change. It is about managing change thoughtfully, repairing rather than replacing, adapting historic places for contemporary life while respecting their character, and ensuring that the stories embodied in our buildings remain visible for those who come after us. From sensitive residential restorations and compatible additions to the comprehensive rehabilitation of major civic landmarks, this year’s recipients underscore how preservation and progress are most successful when they work hand in hand.
Several of this year’s awards also celebrate individuals whose lifelong commitment has strengthened preservation throughout our region. Their advocacy, scholarship, leadership, and perseverance have inspired countless others and created a lasting legacy that extends far beyond any single building or project.
For more than four decades, SOHO has presented the People In Preservation Awards to recognize excellence in preserving the architectural, cultural, and historical resources that define San Diego County. More than 700 individuals, families, businesses, nonprofits, and public institutions have been honored, creating a remarkable record of those who have invested in preserving our shared heritage.
The 2026 award recipients remind us that preservation is ultimately an act of optimism. Every restored window, every carefully repaired architectural detail, every thoughtfully designed addition, every protected landmark, and every lifetime devoted to safeguarding our heritage reflects a belief that the places we inherit are worthy of care. Through their vision and stewardship, this year’s honorees ensure that future generations will continue to experience the authentic character, beauty, and stories that make San Diego County unlike anywhere else.
SOHO OFFERS RESOUNDING GRATITUDE AND CONGRATULATIONS to the 2026 People In Preservation honorees. Your commitment to preserving our shared heritage strengthens our communities, enriches our sense of place, and leaves an enduring legacy that benefits us all for years to come.
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What does preservation look like?
This year, it looks like ten extraordinary stories of people who cared enough to make a difference.
Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO) is delighted to announce the 2026 recipients of the People In Preservation (PIP) Awards, honoring the remarkable people whose passion, persistence, creativity, and care are helping preserve the places and stories that make San Diego County unique.
This year’s honorees show us that preservation is about restoring great architecture, protecting neighborhood character, reviving landmark places, honoring the vision of master architects, carrying family histories forward, documenting the stories of communities, and speaking up for the places we love.
From longtime preservation champions and leaders and a devoted voice for Ocean Beach to remarkable homeowners, architectural stewards, culture keepers, and civic leaders, the 2026 awardees represent the many ways preservation happens. Each has made a meaningful contribution to keeping San Diego’s history visible, authentic, and alive.
We are grateful for their dedication and inspired by what they have accomplished.
Please join us in congratulating the 2026 People In Preservation Award recipients
Go here to view links to each winner.
