At the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation Annual Meeting, the 2025 Preservation Awards celebrated the homeowners, stewards, and design teams who protect Lake Forest’s historic visual character—one thoughtfully cared-for property at a time.
Outgoing president Brian Norton reflected on preservation as something forward-looking: not “living in the past,” but laying down memories for the future. He highlighted a year of momentum—from record annual fund support to ongoing advocacy and brick-and-mortar work—before welcoming Art Miller, whose “Five (Plus One) Favorite Lake Forest Houses” reminded the audience just how deep and inspiring Lake Forest’s architectural legacy runs.
Awards followed across key categories grounded in the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, recognizing excellence in Preservation, Rehabilitation, and New Construction/Infill—projects that honor original character, repair and adapt with care, and build new in a way that strengthens established neighborhoods.
The 2025 honorees demonstrated that great preservation is equal parts craftsmanship, context, and commitment—and that the real “winners” are the future generations who will inherit a Lake Forest that still feels unmistakably like Lake Forest.
