Newsroom

Heritage Conservancy Hosted Bucks County Commissioner and Honored George J. Donovan at "Businesses for Conservation" Reception

Bucks County's new Commissioner, Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia honors George J. Donovan, AIA, LEED AP as a leader in regional preservation.

George Donovan receiving Heritage Conservancy's 2008 Business Leader Conservation Award from Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia

Over 120 people joined Heritage Conservancy at Doylestown's historic Aldie Mansion on Thursday, April 24 to listen to Commissioner Ellis-Marseglia present the Conservancy's 2008 Business Leader Conservation Award to regionally recognized architect, George J. Donovan. This is the third year that Heritage Conservancy has presented its Business Leader Conservation Award to a businessperson who has made a significant contribution to preservation. The Commissioner also presented Mr. Donovan with a proclamation from the Bucks County Commissioners honoring his work. The award presentation was all part of Heritage Conservancy's tenth annual Businesses for Conservation reception and the year-long celebration of the Conservancy's 50th Anniversary.

Commissioner Ellis-Marseglia, when presenting the award to George Donovan said, " George has a certain sense of what people need and how to put that together with the project he is developing. George doesn't give you more than you need but never less. That is one of the major reasons he is getting this award tonight."

Clifford C. David Jr., President of Heritage Conservancy noted that George served several terms on the Conservancy's Board and praised him for his many years of dedication to the Conservancy's mission. Mr. David also presented a Pa Senate citation on behalf of Senator Chuck McIlhinney to George for his exceptional efforts in land and historic preservation.

Mr. Donovan who owns an architectural firm located in Bedminster Township, has long been recognized for his "green building" designs and adaptive reuse of historic structures. One of Donovan's most noted adaptive reuses of an historic structure is Aldie Mansion, Heritage Conservancy's headquarters. After years of being vacant and vandalized, Aldie Mansion was acquired by Heritage Conservancy in 1989. The Conservancy, with George Donovan's assistance, restored and preserved the mansion utilizing the practice of adaptive reuse. Adaptive reuse is a process that adapts existing, often older, buildings for new uses while retaining their historic features. Adaptive reuse is one method used for historic preservation and sustainable development throughout the country.

George J. Donovan and Associates AIA have received many recognitions for their projects. In 2006, the firm was given the Silver Award from the Bucks County Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) for the adaptive reuse of the Diana Vincent Jewelers, a 1940's cape in Washington Crossing, PA.

Chris Chandor, Penn's Grant Realty; Melinda Levandoski, Abington Bank, Dan Rattigan, CFP®, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisor; Joy Styles, Abington Bank & Heritage Conservancy Business Member Chair: L.Scott Mill, Van Cleef Engineering Associates, Lisa Kobbe Schubel, Curtin & Heefner, LLP; Bill Haines, Monument Bank

Mr. Donovan's firm has also received the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce's Excellence in Design Award numerous times for multiple adaptive reuse and restoration projects throughout Bucks County including the Lower Southampton Township Library, the Visitor Center at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa and the Bucks County Audubon Society's Honey Hollow Environmental Education Center.

In addition to being recognized for historic restoration and adaptive reuse, Donovan's firm has received LEED Professional Accreditation by demonstrating a thorough understanding of green building practices and principals and the LEED Green Building System.

Mr. Donovan spoke of his involvement with Central Bucks Chamber's Architectural and Environmental Committee which promotes excellence in design in both the built and natural environments through adaptive reuse and new construction. He also talked about his effort to further advance this concept by working with Jeffrey Marshall, Heritage Conservancy's Vice President of Resource Protection, to promote the Bucks County Audubon's barn tour, Castles in the Fields. The purpose of the tour is the preservation of barns through continued use, either for agricultural purposes or adaptive reuse for residential or commercial projects. Mr. Donovan said, "My commitment to historic preservation and land conservation permeates my past 30 years of architectural practice and personal philosophy."

Mr. Donovan noted his firm has preserved more than forty historic structures through adaptive reuse and transformed them into income producing businesses that help keep the local business community stable and increase property values. Donovan added, "This is a win-win approach for everyone."

In conclusion, Mr. Donovan stated, "The Conservancy has been at the forefront of these concepts. Heritage Conservancy is a beacon for the success of this preservation process."

In 2007, the award went to Renny Reynolds, an international renowned garden and event designer, for his preservation with conservation easements of his Wrightstown property, Hortulus Farm Nursery & Gardens. In 2006, Mr. Reynolds also donated the Hortulus Farm Nursery business to Heritage Conservancy. Profits from the nursery now support the Conservancy's preservation work throughout the region.

Heritage Conservancy's Businesses for Conservation reception is held annually to honor and thank the nearly 200 local and regional businesses that support the Conservancy's mission of preserving the natural and historic heritage of this region. "This is our chance to thank our business members for their commitment to preservation and their support of our work," said Heritage Conservancy President Clifford C. David Jr. "We are so pleased that Commissioner Ellis-Marseglia agreed to join us for this event and help the Conservancy recognize George for his innovative work in land conservation and historic preservation."

The event's major sponsor was Abington Bank. Contributing event sponsors included Curtin & Heefner, LLP; Dan Rattigan, CFP®, Wealth Management Advisor for Merrill Lynch; Monument Bank; Peddler's Village; Penn's Grant Corporation and Van Cleef Engineering Associates.