The Preservation Alliance’s 2024 Architectural Dinner was held at Elstowe Manor, the dazzling Gilded Age mansion of William L. Elkins that was designed in 1898 by Horace Trumbauer. Part of the 42-acre Elkins Estate, the house has recently undergone a $10 million renovation by Landmark Developers.
Sister Mary Scullion and Joan Dawson McConnon were honored as the recipients of the 2024 Mary Werner DeNadai Award – presented to a civic leader who has made a lasting impact in historic preservation.
Sr. Mary and Joan are renowned for their tremendous impact and legacy as the founders of PROJECT HOME over 35 years ago. Less well known is that many of the buildings that were renovated for supportive, affordable housing include the adaptive reuse of historic properties throughout the city.
“None of us are home until all of us are home”
is their famous motto…
… and in creating the new homes in which thousands of our fellow Philadelphians have relaunched their lives, Project HOME has also relaunched the lives of ten historic buildings, including an Art Deco office building in Fairmount, a hospital in Hunting Park, a turn of the century clubhouse on North Broad Street, a public school in Kensington, a home for retired actors in Wynnefield, a convent and rectory in North Philadelphia, a 1920s skyscraper in Rittenhouse, and a group of Victorian rowhouses in Strawberry Mansion.
We were thrilled to celebrate these pioneering trailblazers and recognize an aspect of their work that is so closely aligned with the mission of the Preservation Alliance to encourage and support new uses for Philadelphia’s historic built environment.
Please enjoy this tribute video to Sister Mary and Joan
Thank you to our generous sponsors
Mary Werner DeNadai Sponsors
John Alchin and Hal Marryatt
Janet Klein
“Elstowe Manor” Sponsors
Firstrust Bank
John Milner Architects
Katherine and Julian Jiggins
Russell Harris, MD
Southwood Properties
Preservationist Sponsors
Domus
Eberlein Design Consultants
The Honickman Foundation
McDonald Building Company
O’Donnell & Naccarato Structural Engineers
Philly Office Retail
Powers & Company
Premier Building Restoration
PWPVideo
All proceeds from this fundraising event support the work and mission of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia. Contact Susan Matyas for more information.
