Heineken Cities Project
May 1, 2017

Explore Awesome Preservation Projects In Your City!

  • By: National Trust for Historic Preservation

What makes a city great? Its culture, for sure—its flavor, texture, color. Its skyline and landscapes. Definitely its history.

But what brings a city’s greatness to life? That’s where its people come in—the communities that form its beating heart and breathing lungs, and the neighborhoods that turn places we live into places we love.

In 2017, Heineken and the National Trust collaborated on a crowdfunding initiative called The Cities Project, which allowed people to contribute directly to preservation projects that will make their cities even greater places to call home.

The Cities Project by Heineken helps strong communities bring special projects to life. It all started in 2016 when Heineken partnered with the National Trust to launch the “Save Your Seat” campaign at Miami Marine Stadium, our remarkable Modernist, graffiti-covered National Treasure built in 1963. The goal: kickstart this unique stadium’s restoration. The result: more than $100,000 raised, along with an outpouring of public support for the dilapidated but beloved place.

This year, the campaign expanded to ten projects stretching from New York to Honolulu. The projects raised over $350,000 for preservation. Explore them all below, and get inspired to make your city even greater!

The Cities Project By Heineken: Sweet Auburn Water Tower

Heineken Cities Project Callout: Sweet Auburn Water Tower

A water tower that rises above Atlanta’s famous Sweet Auburn neighborhood will be transformed by local artists to refresh the 111-year-old structure with eye-catching public art.

The Cities Project By Heineken: Voiceover: Chicago

Heineken Cities Project Callout: Chicago Voiceover

Voiceover is a public audio installation that will collect residents’ personal stories about what makes the Windy City so special. Audio recordings with their reflections will be broadcast on speakers on Chicago’s elevated Bloomingdale Trail—the heart of The 606.

The Cities Project By Heineken: Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial

Heineken Cities Project Callout: Waikiki Natatorium

The only ocean-water swim venue built as a war memorial, the Natatorium celebrates Hawaii’s indigenous swimming traditions and honors the Hawaii citizens who served in World War I. The Indiegogo campaign will kick off an effort to restore this treasure with 21st century engineering so the public can enjoy it once again.

The Cities Project By Heineken: Houston Astrodome

Heineken Cities Project Callout: Houston Astrodome

Dubbed the “8th Wonder of the World,” the Houston Astrodome hosted sporting and cultural events but has been shuttered for almost a decade. The Indiegogo project will fund a public installation and event that invites people to experience the Dome in a whole new way.

The Cities Project By Heineken: LA's Triforium

Heineken Cities Project Callout: Los Angeles Triforium

An effort to rehabilitate this quirky, iconic 1970s structure will help bring music to the heart of downtown Los Angeles. This project will aim to breathe new life into the Triforium and its unique sound system.

The Cities Project By Heineken: Little Havana

Heineken Cities Project Callout: Little Havana

The Little Havana neighborhood is at the heart of Miami and a symbol of the American melting pot. This project, inspired by the famed “Humans of New York” effort, will commission a local photographer and writer to capture the residents’ colorful lives.

The Cities Project By Heineken: New York State Pavilion

Heineken Cities Project Callout: New York State Pavilion

The shining star of the 1964 World’s Fair, the Pavilion charmed millions with its futuristic architecture. Today, efforts are being made to renovate the site, and this project will help to repair its entryway.

The Cities Project By Heineken: Philadelphia's Rail Park

Heineken Cities Project Callout: Philly Rail Park

Like Manhattan’s High Line, this stretch of railroad tracks will be converted into a beautiful urban space traversing Philly. The crowdfunding campaign will support design enhancements on phase one of the project, including the restoration of an iconic Reading Railroad dining car into the Rail Park’s welcome center.

The Cities Project By Heineken: Pioneer Square's Prism Glass Sidewalks

Heineken Cities Project Callout: Seattle's Pioneer Square

One of the most famous features of Seattle’s Pioneer Square is its collection of purple glass sidewalk tiles. Time and the elements have left portions of the sidewalk in disrepair; this project will support the restoration of this beloved spectacle.

The Cities Project By Heineken: D.C.'s Union Station

Heineken Cities Project Callout: DC Union Station

The giant centurions that stand guard throughout Union Station in Washington, D.C. are overdue for a facelift. This project will jumpstart an effort to revive the 46 statues to their former glory.

Have a question? Check out the press release. Also, see full program Terms and Conditions.

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The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded nonprofit organization, works to save America’s historic places. Savingplaces.org

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This May, our Preservation Month theme is “People Saving Places” to shine the spotlight on everyone doing the work of saving places—in big ways and small—and inspiring others to do the same!

Celebrate!