A Year of Awards at Fallingwater

The National Trust for Historic Preservation presented its prestigious National Trust Trustee Emeritus Award for Excellence in Stewardship of Historic Sites to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) for stewardship of Fallingwater.

The Barn at Fallingwater received three important recognitions in 2006. Located about a quarter of a mile from the Frank Lloyd Wright masterwork, the barn recently underwent a renovation that respected the structure’s historical significance while employing environmentally-friendly measures.

The U.S. Green Building Council recognized the Barn’s design as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® (LEED). The organization awards points to buildings that take preventative measures to lessen their impact on the environment, including the use of recycled materials, increased use of daylight and reduced water consumption.

“Wood Design and Building” magazine presented the Barn at Fallingwater a Merit Award in their 2006 Wood Design Awards noting that the structure was able to maintain its original timber frame by complimenting it with new parallel strand lumber and various recycled wood materials.

A Commonwealth Design Award from 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania was received in 2006. The award pays tribute to local visionaries who have invested time and resources in building a better future for Pennsylvania.

The Barn at Fallingwater consists of two barns from the 19th and 20th centuries purchased and converted by the Kaufmann family in the late 1940s for a dairy operation based on Jersey cows. Today, the restored barn provides much needed office space for staff as well as state of the art meeting and conference facilities downstairs in the former milking parlor and a stunning special events space in the large and open upper level which once served as a threshing floor and storage area.