Golden Hammer Awards

Organization: Historic Richmond Foundation (in partnership with Storefront for Community Design)

The Golden Hammer Awards honor excellence in neighborhood revitalization, historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and placemaking efforts throughout the Greater Richmond area. The awards were started in 2000 and recognize outstanding projects that contribute to the beautification, vitality, and revitalization of Richmond neighborhoods.

Geographic Scope: Greater Richmond area including the City of Richmond and Counties of Chesterfield, Hanover, and Henrico

Award Categories:

• Best Adaptive Reuse: Projects rehabilitated for new use, including multi-family residential and historic tax credit projects
• Best New Construction: Includes neighborhood infill projects (commercial/mixed use and residential)
• Best Placemaking: Arts and culture projects, park and green-space projects, transportation and infrastructure projects, or other neighborhood enhancing features
• Best Residential: Single-family residential projects
• Best Restoration: Restoration by homeowners, contractors, or developers, including historic tax credit projects

Eligibility Requirements:

• Projects must have been completed after January 1 of the year preceding the awards
• Projects must be located in greater Richmond area (City of Richmond, Counties of Chesterfield, Hanover, and Henrico)
• One entry per project
• Application fee: $50 for businesses, $5 for nonprofit and single family entries

Contact Information:

• Historic Richmond Foundation
• Address: 4 E. Main Street, Suite 1-C, Richmond, VA 23219
• Phone: 804.643.7407
• Email: [email protected]

Application Process for Golden Hammer Awards

Submission Requirements:

1. Complete application form with project details
2. Application fee ($50 for businesses, $5 for nonprofits and single-family entries)
3. Project information including photos and descriptions
4. Confirmation that project is completed (after January 1 of preceding year)
5. Verification of project location in greater Richmond area

Submission Timeline:

• Nominations welcomed annually
• Typical deadline: Mid-September (e.g., midnight September 13 for recent years)
• Award ceremony: Typically held in early November
• Project completion deadline: After January 1 of the preceding year

Required Information:

• Project name and location
• Category of entry
• Project completion date
• Contact information for submitter
• Project photographs and description