Recognized for his outstanding commitment, expertise and professional achievement in working as Senior Restoration Architect for the State Historic Preservation Office and administering the tax credit programs.

After almost 20 years as the senior preservation architect and rehabilitation tax credit coordinator for the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office, Tim Simmons requires very little introduction to Tar Heel preservationists.

In addition to overseeing the administrative details of tax credit projects across the state, Tim has demonstrated his commitment to historic preservation by sharing his knowledge with those who are putting their own money on the line. From newbies who have no idea what they are getting into to the developer who has done it all before, Tim’s expertise and his quiet and steady disposition benefit everyone involved.

A native of Burlington, Tim received his degrees in environmental design and architecture from North Carolina State University. He worked with the architectural firm of Hager, Smith and Huffman from 1983 to 1990, before taking his current position with the state.

Since 1990, Tim has been the shepherd for at least 750 projects, seeing them successfully through the approval process for a total rehabilitation-cost investment of more than $850 million. Tim’s involvement in reusing the state’s historic resources predates much of the green building and sustainable architecture movements of today.

While his day-to-day responsibilities are focused on income-producing rehabilitation projects that use federal and state historic preservation tax credits, Tim has found opportunities to further the cause of preservation in other important ways. He served as a member of the committee that drafted the state historic preservation and mill tax credit programs and as a member of the North Carolina building code committee for existing and historic buildings. For two years, Tim chaired of the AIA North Carolina Historic Resources Committee. And, of course, he has been a frequent and much appreciated speaker at Preservation North Carolina annual conferences.

For devotion to his work, depth of knowledge in the field, for his skills as an administrator, and for showing patience and understanding to those who don’t know nearly as much as he does, Preservation North Carolina is proud to honor Tim Simmons with the 2009 Robert E. Stipe Professional Award.