Chicago nonprofit Landmarks Illinois announced this week that three local projects have earned the 2026 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards. The Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation in Austin, the Little Village Arch Restoration Project, and the Muddy Waters MOJO Museum in Kenwood were singled out for their successful rehabilitation of historic buildings and the positive impact those projects have on their surrounding communities.
Aspire Center turns former school into a workforce hub
Located at 5500 W. Madison St., the Aspire Center occupies the former Robert Emmet Elementary School, which had sat vacant for years. A joint venture between the Westside Health Authority and Austin Coming Together, the three‑story, 85,000‑square‑foot facility opened in the summer of 2025. It now provides local job training, financial coaching, legal aid and other supportive services to residents of the Austin neighborhood. Landmarks Illinois highlighted the Center as a model of how preserving a building can also create new economic opportunities and address community needs.
Little Village Arch celebrates Mexican‑American heritage
Designed by Mexican‑American architect Adrián Lozano, the iconic arch on West 26th Street serves as a cultural gateway that honors Mexican and Mexican‑American heritage along the historic commercial corridor. After being designated a city landmark in 2022—the first such recognition for a structure by a Mexican architect—the arch underwent an extensive renovation. Work included repairing the historic clock, restoring granite, limestone and stucco, and cleaning the façade and roof. The restoration, unveiled in 2024, reinforces the arch’s role as a visual reminder of the neighborhood’s rich cultural roots.
Muddy Waters MOJO Museum preserves blues legacy
The former 1891 two‑flat home of McKinley Morganfield, better known as Muddy Waters, has been transformed into the MOJO Museum, a vibrant gathering place for music lovers, studio work and live performances. The house, which earned Chicago landmark status in 2021, was restored under the leadership of museum founder Chandra Cooper, the musician’s great‑granddaughter. The museum celebrates Muddy Waters’ contribution to modern Chicago blues and provides a space for community events, continuing the tradition of impromptu jam sessions that helped shape the genre.
Recognition underscores the power of preservation
“Our 2026 award winners have reimagined places of our past to create a more dynamic and inclusive future for us all,” said Frank Butterfield, interim president and CEO of Landmarks Illinois. He added that these projects go beyond saving bricks and mortar; they revitalize neighborhoods, advance cultural representation and deliver resources people need today, such as housing and economic growth.
The awards ceremony will be held on November 6 at the Art Institute of Chicago’s Rubloff Auditorium and Chicago Stock Exchange Trading Room, 230 S. Columbus Drive. The event is open to the public, with tickets priced at $60 for members, $75 for non‑members and $20 for students.
Six additional winners from across Illinois—including projects in Alton, Alto Pass, Champaign County, East St. Louis and Edwardsville—were also recognized for their contributions to preserving the state’s built heritage. For a full list of award recipients, visit the Landmarks Illinois website.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
