Paul E. Buchanan Award

Paul Buchanan The Paul E. Buchanan Award was instituted by VAF in 1993 to recognize contributions to the study and preservation of vernacular architecture and the cultural landscape that do not take the form of books or published work. Hundreds of studies, reports, documentation projects, restoration plans, National Register nominations, exhibits, video/digital media productions and public programs are completed each year without the benefit of distribution or recognition beyond the limited audience for which they were commissioned. Nonetheless, many of these efforts can serve to inform and inspire us all.

The award was named for Paul E. Buchanan, who served for over thirty years as the Director of Architectural Research at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Buchanan set the standard for architectural fieldwork in America and inspired many VAF members in the rewards of fieldwork. This award honors the valuable work that most of our members and professional associates perform.

The deadline for nominations for the 2023 Buchanan Award is February 1, 2023.

Buchanan Call for Nominations

Past Buchanan Award Winners

2022 Buchanan Award Recipient

The Paul E. Buchanan Award honors outstanding vernacular architecture and cultural landscape projects within a wide range of formats, other than published books or articles. The recipient of the 2022 Buchanan Award is the City of Atlanta's "Future Places" Project. This exemplary work embodies the highest standards of meticulous documentation and rigorous analysis that this award was created to honor each year.

Please visit the 2022 Buchanan Award Recipient Page for more details.

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the secretary or the webmaster.