Applications Open Now Until May 15th!

Celebrating Excellence in Historic Preservation

Following last year's record number of applications, our traditional juried project awards continue in 2026.

Since 2013, the DeMuro Award has promoted historic preservation and reuse in Oregon by spotlighting and celebrating outstanding rehabilitation projects, and sharing the lessons learned from those case studies. It honors the legacy of our friend and former Board member, Art DeMuro, whose career embodied vision, persistence, creativity, excellence, and sound economics. The recipients are publicly honored at the Restoration Celebration ceremony each Fall. The winners are also exclusively acknowledged on the Restore Oregon website and the case studies will be featured in our publications and social media.

The purpose of the DeMuro award is to:

  • Inspire more historic preservation in Oregon
  • Recognize significant leaders in the field
  • Promote excellence in the practice of historic preservation
  • Build partnerships between Oregon preservation professionals and advocacy communities

KEY DATES

March 14, 2026:
Applications open
May 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM PST:
Applications close
Early August 2026:
Award Winners Notified
Early September 2026:
Award Winners Publicly Announced
October 2026:
DeMuro Awards presented at the Restoration Celebration

How to Apply: 

Step 1: View the application questions/view the photo requirements and pay the application fee to gain access to the application. 

Preview the 2026 application questions in advance.

Preview the 2026 photo requirements in advance

 

Application Fees:

  • Individual or Business – $175
  • Nonprofit - $125

You will receive the application link in your confirmation email. Be sure to add forms@app.smartsheet.com and automation@app.smartsheet.com to your contacts and check your spam folder. 

Step 2: Answer Application Questions 

Click the application link in your confirmation email. The application includes a question section and a spreadsheet. Download the spreadsheet template, “save as” with your project name, and fill them out.

Please note that an application cannot be saved once it has been started. Prepare all of your materials in advance to ensure you’re ready to hit “submit” when you’ve finished filling out the application.

 

Step 3: Complete the Project Teams spreadsheet - Give credit to the entire project team!

Provide complete information for the project team including company name, contact person, email and mailing information and the role served (use the provided spreadsheet template, found in the application). Detailed instructions included in the application.

 

Step 4: Complete the Project Photo Submission (20 photo maximum)

In addition to submitting photos, you will be asked to include a short description of each photo (limit 500 characters). Include details such as:

-dates

-progress notes

-craftsmanship

-creativity

-problem-solving

-team members

-photo credit

 

After you submit the photo submission, you will receive a confirmation email and your nomination will be judged!

 

Application tips:

Preview the 2026 application questions in advance.

Preview the 2026 photo requirements in advance

Write and edit the answers in a separate document for easy cut and paste into the application.

Make sure you have project team names to include in the spreadsheet.

Be sure to include high quality photos to clearly show your hard work.

Get all three components ready, then start your application. It will go quickly and easily!

 

Winners of the 2026 DeMuro Award will receive:
  • Recognition at the Restoration Celebration Gala in October.
  • A one-of-a-kind award valued at over $150; and an opportunity to purchase additional awards.
  • Statewide public relations announcement.
  • Promotion on restoreoregon.org, all Restore Oregon social media platforms, and in FieldNotes Magazine.