JENNIFER ECKERMANN, BBA ARCHITECTS RECEIVE AWARDS AT TEXAS DOWNTOWN CONFERENCE
Downtown Brenham was well represented this week at the annual Texas Downtown Conference in San Marcos.
Winners for the 2022 President’s Awards Program were announced on Wednesday, and Brenham brought home two awards: the Susan H. Campbell Award for Professional Excellence and the President’s Award for Best Renovation/Rehabilitation/Restoration.
The Susan H. Campbell Award was presented to City of Brenham Tourism and Marketing Director Jennifer Eckermann. The award was established in honor of Susan Campbell, a past president and board member of Texas Downtown. It is bestowed on downtown professionals who have significantly impacted their city and participate in the larger Texas downtown community.
From June 1999 to June 2022, Eckermann has worked to support downtown Brenham’s preservation and promote Brenham and Washington County and their rich history. She has initiated events like Local History Day and Step into the Past to educate residents and visitors about Brenham’s past, while backing downtown small businesses.
The President’s Award for Best Renovation/Rehabilitation/Restoration for cities with a population under 50,000 was presented to BBA Architects. The award was based on the rehabilitation of the original 1925 Old Dick Tracy Tire Store building at 213 West Main Street, which was converted into a 2,400-square-foot architect’s office with co-working space.
Building owners Darren and Dayna Heine say they approached the remodel from a stewardship perspective, wishing to be respectful in keeping the historic nature of the building intact to tell its story, while also making sure the building could be adapted in the future as necessary to live on for another 100 years.
Meanwhile, the City of Navasota also came away with awards. In the category for Best Commercial Interior for populations under 50,000, the P.A. Smith Hotel won the President’s Award, while Rail & Rye received the People’s Choice Award.
A total of 129 entries were submitted in 12 different award categories from communities across the state.