Preservation Futures

Preservation Futures is a Chicago-based firm exploring the future of historic preservation through research, action, and design. Founded by Elizabeth Blasius and Jonathan Solomon in 2021, Preservation Futures goes beyond historic preservation’s traditional approach to saving buildings to identify and shepherd future landmarks that elevate the social and cultural history embedded in places and spaces. Our work includes preservation of public buildings and spaces; preservation of the recent past; and preservation as a tool to increase justice, equity, and resiliency in the built environment. We prepare landmark register nominations and navigate tax incentives and other benefits related to preservation; produce research that informs public processes and policy decisions; and we plan programming and design creative interventions that develop audiences and engage communities.