SAN ANTONIO (April 10, 2018) – The San Antonio Conservation Society recently recognized VIA Metropolitan Transit for its commitment to preserving historic landmarks, and its investment in transit-oriented communities with the Historic Preservation Award for the Build Environment.

VIA received the award for its work on the VIA Centro Plaza/Washington Hotel Rehabilitation project. The former Washington Hotel is a two-story 4,600 sq. ft. brick building which served the historic International & Great Northern Railroad depot one block south.

The hotel primarily occupied the second floor, with the first floor containing a foundry. In later years, the building housed a flower shop, residences, and offices for local bilingual newspaper, La Prensa de San Antonio.

VIA purchased the entire site for a new multi-modal transit facility and transformed the building into new offices for its transit police division.  Exterior improvements included stripping paint off all original brick and clay masonry, replacing retrofitted vinyl windows with new wood windows to match the original, reconstructing wood storefronts, replacing the canopy, and installing a new roof.

The San Antonio Conservation Society honored 10 projects with its Historic Preservation Awards for the Built Environment, and presented 10 special awards to individuals or organizations at a special awards ceremony on March 28, 2018.  Buildings receiving honors ranged from well-known properties, such as the Landa Library to a former feed store; and people receiving honors ranged from a renowned architect to an unsung hero.