Best Retrospective Project | Bob R. Brooks Jr. Justice Building

Location: Little Rock, Arkansas 

Winning team 

• Architect: District Design Architecture  
• Manufacturer of fenestration systems: Quaker Commercial  
• Contract glazier: Conway Glass 
• General contractor: Central Construction Group 

This $35-million rehabilitation project received a Preserve Arkansas Award, an organization dedicated to historic preservation. Originally known as the Boyle Building and built in 1909, this building was completely renovated, and Quaker Commercial played a big part. The building’s original use in 1909 was to house architect John Parks Almand’s architectural business. According to a local news outlet, the building had sat vacant for 25 years before this renovation took place. 

With Quaker’s H650 Series Single Hung and H450 Series Casement and Fixed, high-performing aluminum windows, the original architectural style was preserved. Every window was customized to the building's unique profile. Windows were painted white to match the original windows’ color. Glass thicknesses varied by floor and elevation; reinforced sills provided water and air infiltration resistance essential on upper floors exposed to elevated wind loads. 

“This is a strong example of bringing a building back to life in a way that feels authentic and purposeful. The project doesn’t try to reinvent the architecture, it carefully restores it while quietly upgrading performance behind the scenes,” says judge Zajichek. 

Completed in April 2025 and marked with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Quaker officials say that the Bob R. Brooks Jr. Justice Building is a testament to what is possible when fenestration expertise meets historic stewardship, preserving what a city remembers while serving the needs of the community it has become.