The restoration of an old meeting hall in Jefferson into a high-tech hub is one of only 14 Iowa preservation projects that were recognized last week at the virtual Preserve Iowa Summit. “These outstanding properties give communities a unique sense of pride and place,” says Chris Kramer, director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, which oversees the State Historic Preservation office and was co-host of the summit. “The adaptive reuse of these iconic buildings is a creative and economic way to revitalize an entire neighborhood.” The Forge was presented with a Preservation at its Best Award for the Best Large Commercial Project. The former Odd Fellows meeting hall near the Jefferson town square was converted into a space for software developers and students from 39 surrounding communities to advance the industry. The Forge is funded partially through local, county, state and federal support and the 6,000-square-foot property is attracting praise from the state’s capitol to Silicon Valley.