The Leicester B. Holland Prize is an annual competition that recognizes the best single-sheet measured drawing of a historic building, structure or site prepared to the standards of the National Park Service's Heritage Documentation Programs (HDP). The sheet may be prepared for the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), Historic American Engineering Record (HAER), or Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS). The prize is supported by the Paul Rudolph Trust, the American Institute of Architects, and the Library of Congress's Center for Architecture, Design, and Engineering. The prize honors Leicester B. Holland (1882-1952), FAIA, chairman of the AIA's Committee on Historic Buildings, head of the Fine Arts Division of the Library of Congress, first curator of the HABS collection, co-founder of the HABS program in the 1930s, and the first chair of the HABS Advisory Board.
The prize serves multiple purposes. It is intended to increase awareness, knowledge, and appreciation of historic sites, structures, and landscapes throughout the United States. Prize entries add to the permanent HABS, HAER, and HALS collection at the Library of Congress. The prize also honors the art of architectural delineation and composition in the tradition established by the Ecole des Beaux Arts. Beaux Arts methodology embraced the study and drawing of historic buildings as a crucial component of architectural education, providing an opportunity for young architects to gain an understanding of the principles of design and construction. Additionally, Beaux Arts Methodology was a means through which architects mined historic buildings for architectural motifs to be used in their restoration and new design projects.
By requiring only a single sheet, the competition challenges the delineator to capture the essence of the site through the presentation of key features that reflect its historic and its architectural, landscape architectural or engineering significance. The Holland Prize competition is open to all those interested, regardless of experience or professional background.
Awards
The winner will receive a $1,500 cash prize and a certificate of recognition. Preservation Architect, the online newsletter of the American Institute of Architects' Historic Resources Committee, will publish the winning drawing. Merit awards may also be given.
Eligibility
Participants
Anyone is eligible to compete in the Holland Prize competition except current HDP employees.
Project
The site selected for documentation must be appropriate for inclusion in the HABS/HAER/HALS Collection and can include buildings, structures, engineering and industrial sites, and landscapes. The site must either be previously unrecorded by HDP or have undergone substantial changes requiring an addendum to an existing survey.
Instructions
- Follow the HABS, HAER, or HALS guidelines for measured drawings and (if applicable) historical reports.
- Review the rating scale to see how each project is judged.
- Submit the Holland Prize entry form (pdf) by the deadline listed below. For student teams, the faculty sponsor will submit the form. The Holland Prize coordinator will verify the proposed site name and address after receiving the form.
- The prize coordinator will do up to two reviews of the draft documentation. The review deadline is listed below. The prize coordinator will provide the AutoCAD title block after reviewing at least one draft of the drawing. Draft historical reports may also be submitted for review.
- The Holland Prize coordinator will plot the finished sheet. If you want to plot the sheet yourself, or if you want to enter an ink-on-Mylar drawing, check with the coordinator for instructions before beginning your project.
How to approach composing a single-sheet drawing: The sheet should include those elements that best represent and/or convey what is significant about the site or structure from the standpoint of history and design. For HABS, the sheet can encompass numerous elements including, plan(s), elevation(s), section(s), site plan, and details such as typical windows and doors, architectural details and molding profiles, and construction elements. HAER drawings, in addition to the above, may also include process plan(s), and machinery sections and details. HALS drawings may include vegetation and circulation plans, and hardscape elements. A brief statement of significance is required to appear on the sheet in entries without an accompanying short-format historical report.
Submission Checklist
Note: Digital files (pdf, Microsoft Word) can be sent via email or on CD/DVD.
- Drawing:
- High-quality pdf of the final sheet (24" x 36", ARCH D)
- (Optional): Physical copy of the full-sized sheet (if agreed upon by the Holland Prize coordinator)
- Field notes: Original field sketches and/or field records for laser scanning & photogrammetry. Fold oversized pages to 8.5" x 11" size. Write the survey number on each page. Do not bind the field notes.
- Field photos (optional but recommended): Printed copies of field photos, to be included in the field records. Include the survey number on every photo/page.
- Historical report: Microsoft Word file (see templates)
- Signed Copyright Release Form (pdf), to confirm that you are donating your work to the HABS/HAER/HALS Collection. If you use a digital signature, send a pdf instead of a paper copy of the form.
Deadlines
- 1 August: Email deadline for submission of entry forms
- 1 September: Final date that HABS/HAER/HALS staff will review draft drawings and historical reports
- 1 August to 1 October: Completed entries accepted (postmark date)
- October: Jury meets
- Winter: Prize winner announced
Prize Coordinator Contact Information
Robert Arzola e-mail us
Mail sent to the HDP through USPS is subject to irradiation. It is recommended that submissions be sent via FedEx, United Parcel Service, or other delivery service. Address submissions to:
Robert Arzola
Holland Prize Coordinator
Historic Documentation Programs
National Park Service
1849 C St NW, Mail Stop 7408
Washington, DC 20240
Last updated: December 8, 2023