Meet The 2022 Awards Winners

The David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Excellence in Institutional Development – WINNER

Location: New York, NY

Owner: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Developer: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and MSK Design

Architects: Perkins Eastman Architects in association with Ennead Architects

As New York City’s largest freestanding cancer care center, The David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center accommodates nearly every aspect of cancer care across numerous specialties under one roof. Constructed on a former brownfield site, the 25-story, 750,000-square-foot LEED-Gold certified center blends clinical and amenity spaces to create a campus for patients, caregivers, and staff that engages, educates, and reduces tensions and anxieties associated with traditional healthcare environments. The building’s massing, expressed in cantilevered forms, reduces its scale into smaller volumes to respond to the building’s Upper East Side neighborhood. The façade provides a distinct exterior identity, an interior environment with plentiful daylight and expansive city and East River views, and healing gardens and terraces, populated with native plantings that attract pollinators, to facilitate connection to the outdoors. The building’s holistic approach to resilience is a model for healthcare facilities amid the challenges of increasing climate extremes. Uniquely designed to survive the FEMA-regulated 500-year flood event, all building systems have been designed to meet the need for resiliency, such as floodgates at every vulnerable entrance, above-flood elevation mechanical equipment, an energy “co-generation” plant on the roof, and a 25,000-gallon basement-level fuel tank that is protected by a submarine-style entrance and exit. The combination of the design’s hospitality-like environment, meaningful patient- and staff-centered programming, and seamlessly integrated technology creates a new design paradigm for 21st-century cancer care.

Third at Bankside

Excellence in Market-Rate Housing Development – WINNER

Location: Bronx, NY

Developer/Owner: Brookfield Properties

Architect: Hill West Architects

Third at Bankside is a 458-unit mixed-income residential building located in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx. Upon acquisition, Brookfield Properties had to complete an extensive remediation project to remove contaminants and chemicals that were in the groundwater and soil because of the property’s many years spent as a brownfield site. This process resulted in the excavation of 17,750 tons of contaminated soil and debris, which was replaced with clean soil and stone. Once the site was ready to be developed, a three-tower building was constructed with a mix of weathered masonry, brick, glass, and metal that echoes the neighborhood’s historic industrial legacy. Inside the building, residents can enjoy sweeping views of Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx, and amenities such as a pool deck, fitness center, and creative makerspace. Targeting LEED Silver certification, Third at Bankside has sustainability features throughout including landscaped green roofs, a timed lighting system, and a VRF system to eliminate the use of a cooling tower. Green space is easily accessible to both tenants and neighbors through a 34,000-square-foot public park that is the first of its kind in the Mott Haven neighborhood. The park creates a naturalized waterfront promenade and allows the community to have access to the waterfront for the first time in over a century. The retail space at Third at Bankside has been leased to the Empowerment Center, which will serve the community by providing professional development services, community events, workspace, and a coffee shop. As part of the development process, Brookfield sought to incorporate the community by partnering with Building Skills NY to provide out-of-work individuals with skills training and pairing them with subcontractors. Over 65 men and women from the South Bronx have completed this program and work on the Bankside development project. As just the first phase in a 4.3-acre development project, Third at Bankside marks the beginning of an investment in the shining future of the Bronx.

Hudson Commons

Excellence in Office Development – WINNER

Location: New York, NY

Owner: CommonWealth Partners

Developer: Cove Property Group LLC

Architect: Kohn Pedersen Fox

Situated at the gateway to the Hudson Yards submarket, the Kohn Pedersen Fox-designed Hudson Commons reimagines an existing eight-story building and integrates it with a modern 17-story glass-and-steel overbuild. Built in 1962, the existing eight-story, 423,000-square-foot podium was originally designed as a warehouse and converted to office in 1983. The podium’s windows have been expanded by reducing the existing brick spandrels, increasing the amount of natural light within the deep warehouse floorplates. The side core configuration of the new tower preserves city and river views, while floor-to ceiling windows enhance daylight coverage on each floor. The ninth floor serves as the building’s transition from the existing concrete structure below to the new steel tower above and repurposes the existing roof as an extraordinary tenant amenity of outdoor seating and manicured green space. The building also features a variety of amenities to enhance the tenant experience through thoughtfully designed common spaces, personalized service, and advanced technology. The reimagined Hudson Commons also transforms a previously inaccessible street front by adding new glass-enclosed retail spaces on the ground floor for over 300 feet of street frontage. With a focus on wellness, productivity, and sustainability, Hudson Commons is one of only three buildings in New York City to achieve LEED Platinum certification. Hudson Commons demonstrates the value that can be achieved through the creative reuse of outdated building stock to create innovative Class-A workspace and deliver significant environmental benefits.

Bronx Commons

Excellence in Affordable Housing Development – WINNER

Location: Bronx, NY

Owner/Developer: Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco) and BFC Partners

Project Architect: Danois Architects and WXY Studios

Bronx Commons is a mixed-use affordable housing development that exemplifies community-engaged planning and land use that has transformed an empty block in the Bronx into a vibrant, holistic hub of community life. Co-developed by WHEDco (Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corp.) and BFC Partners, the 426,000-square-foot facility includes 305 deeply affordable studio, 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartments for formerly homeless households, including formerly homeless victims and survivors of domestic violence, as well as households earning 30% – 110% of AMI. The development also includes a 150-seat public preschool; restaurant space; a community arts and performance venue; and the Melrose Community Access Support and Training Center – a 2,200 square foot hub for small business, family support services, and community engagement. The building meets LEED Silver environmental standards; has a fitness center and bike parking for residents; and its four roofs feature a green roof, a garden roof, a landscaped recreational roof, as well as a 154kw tilted array solar panel system, the largest on a multifamily building in the Bronx. Bronx Commons has an exceptionally broad and deep affordability model that spans formerly homeless families and individuals and households at nearly every income band: 30%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% and 90-110%. It is a model of affordability that reaches a true mix of low and moderate incomes, and at least 50% of the units are leased to eligible Bronx residents who were living in the surrounding Community Board district, ensuring that Bronx residents can access new affordable housing in their own community. Bronx Commons is a visual marker for change and an anchor for services and opportunities that radiate outward to the surrounding community. Informed by the area’s rich cultural, social, and economic history, and drawing on its assets, Bronx Commons is an engine for improved neighborhood livability, stability, and wellbeing.

Gansevoort Row

Excellence in Retail Development – WINNER

Location: New York, NY

Developer/Owner: Aurora Capital Associates and William Gottlieb Real Estate

Architect: BKSK Architects LLP

Gansevoort Row is a group of five contiguous mixed-use buildings in the Meatpacking District that runs from Gansevoort Plaza to the Whitney Museum and the southern end of the High Line. Despite having to submit a complex proposal to the Landmarks Preservation Commission, the project was unanimously approved. The redevelopment of the site is heavily influenced by the myriad previous uses of the neighborhood including 19th-century tenements, 1930s market buildings, and industrial warehouses. The two easternmost buildings were developed using a cream-colored brick that is reminiscent of their 1940s iterations. The two middle buildings restored the surviving floors of former tenement buildings that were cut from five to two stories during the Great Depression. The block is completed by a brand-new six-story building on the western end of the site that evokes the nearby warehouse buildings. As a result of restoring the existing buildings instead of building new ones, the developers managed to retain 1,564 tons of historic masonry, which prevented it from filling up landfills and eliminated the emissions that would have been required to demolish the buildings and bring in new materials. These choices caused the project to emit 372 fewer tons of greenhouse gas, or the equivalent of 73 gas-powered cars driven for a year. Throughout the project, there are numerous design choices that are inspired by the history of the neighborhood. Steel and cast-iron elements are used throughout the buildings to allude to their previous uses as storefronts. The canopies over each building cast shadows like the ones cast by the long-demolished elevated railway. The unique nature of the site has caused 90% of the retail space to be leased by tenants like Hermes, Frame Denim, and the beloved French restaurant Pastis. As a result of New York’s Open Streets program, the development has become a pedestrian thoroughfare allowing shoppers to walk freely through the streets and ample room for outdoor dining. Gansevoort Row’s mix of traditional and modern elements has allowed it to fit in seamlessly with the hip commercial renaissance of the Meatpacking District.

Battery Maritime Building - Casa Cipriani

Excellence in Repositioning or Redevelopment – WINNER

Location: New York, NY

Owner/Managing City Agency: New York City Economic Development Corporation

Owner/Developer: Midtown Equities

Owner/Operator: Cipriani

Project Architect: Marvel

The redevelopment of the Battery Maritime Building saved a unique 1909 New York City architectural landmark via creative adaptive reuse, a collaborative public-private partnership, and dogged persistence. Through a careful process and a deep commitment to this civic asset, the team crafted an elegantly modern and historically sensitive adaptive reuse project. Midtown Equities and Centaur Properties partnered with a celebrated team of architects and designers to reimagine the Battery Maritime Building as Casa Cipriani, a one-of-a-kind destination that is comprehensively managed and operated by Cipriani and offers an unparalleled marriage of historic grandeur and modern luxury. The Marvel team adhered throughout the property to the Secretary of the Interiors’ guidelines for the treatment of historic properties, while carefully embedding the infrastructure to support a world-class hospitality venue within the historic fabric of the building. Today, Casa Cipriani features three major components, all of which have achieved broad market acceptance since fully opening in September 2021 – the luxury boutique hotel, the unmatched event spaces, and a members’ club all create a truly unique destination within New York City. In addition to being an adaptive reuse project, extensive measures were employed to promote sustainability, resiliency, and health and wellness, including efficient heating, cooling, and ventilation with energy recovery systems; water-saving plumbing fixtures; and extensive wet and dry floodproofing resiliency features – including structural reinforcements – to protect MEP equipment and minimize flood damage. As with much of New York City’s waterfront, the Battery Maritime Building has emerged from its industrial past and been reclaimed as a destination for recreation and leisure.

The Rockaway Hotel

Excellence in Hotel Development – WINNER

Location: Queens, NY

Owner: 7G Group and In Good Company

Architect: Morris Adjmi Architects

The Rockaway Hotel is the first upscale lifestyle hotel in the Rockaways in over 100 years. Upon acquiring the property in 2016, the developers, 7G Group and In Good Company Hospitality, were set on creating a hotel that was influenced by the surrounding area. To avoid overshadowing the historic clapboard homes nearby, the hotel’s height was capped at six stories. The design, including the blue zinc paneling on the exterior, echoes the style and color of the homes that can be seen from the hotel’s windows. Sustainability is an important part of the hotel’s design and operation as evidenced through the green roof and use of environmentally friendly materials such as rattan and legally forested timbers. Though locals were initially wary of a new “hip” hotel in the neighborhood, they grew to embrace the property and frequent its restaurants and bars including Margie’s, The Pool House, and The Rooftop. The hotel has taken steps to give back to its neighbors through a curated art program that highlights local artists and through its program “The Hospitality Way” which educates the local workforce seeking jobs within the hospitality industry. For tourists, the hotel has plenty of amenities, including a pool deck, sun deck, event space, spa, gym with wellness classes, and rooftop terrace. There are also numerous events including regular concerts, disco and country music-themed dance parties, talks from local artists and authors, and fitness and art classes. Since its opening in 2020, the hotel has averaged an occupancy rate of 89.9% and an ADR of $449.50 for its 53 guestrooms and seven furnished rental units. In just two years, the Rockaway Hotel has become an economic driver for the community and a crucial part of making Rockaway Beach a year-round destination.

LaGuardia Airport Redevelopment - Terminal B

Excellence in Civic Development – WINNER

Location: Queens, NY

Developer: LaGuardia Gateway Partners

Owner: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

Architects: WSP and HOK

Long derided as one of the worst airports in the country, New York’s LaGuardia Airport was long overdue for a major renovation. In 2015, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) embarked on a major modernization and redevelopment program to position LaGuardia Airport as a world-class gateway to New York that is internationally recognized and meets the needs of the 21st century. With the recent completion of the Airport’s Terminal B in January of 2022, LaGuardia has achieved that international recognition. The Terminal B project, at a cost of $5.1 billion, is one of the largest public-private partnerships in American history. The new Terminal B includes a brand-new parking garage and an 8-mile roadway network and is anchored by a new 903,00-square foot Arrivals and Departures Hall that welcomes visitors to New York. Perhaps one of the most striking features of the new facility is the pair of pedestrian skybridges that link the main hall to two island gate concourses – the first airport in the world to feature dual skybridges. While traveling from the main hall to the concourses, passengers can enjoy extraordinary works of public art, indoor pocket parks, a variety of shops, a multitude of locally inspired dining options, and two children’s play areas. In addition to thoughtful design, the project met specific sustainability benchmarks for energy efficiency, water conservation, site selection, material selection, and waste reduction – and recycled nearly 100% of the construction debris to be used for new construction. Terminal B is the first airport terminal to achieve LEED v4 Gold certification under the more stringent LEED v4 requirements. Water-saving plumbing fixtures and LED lighting result in water savings of 43% as well as an 18% reduction in energy costs. In response to climate change-induced threats such as sea-level rise and extreme weather events, critical systems were placed on upper levels or underground in concrete; and to further mitigate impact of climate change, LaGuardia’s long-term operations plan calls for reducing the airport’s direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50% by 2030 and net zero by 2050. It stands to note that these achievements were accomplished using more than $2 billion in contracts to Minority and Women Business Enterprises (MWBE) and more than $800 million in contracts awarded to local Queens businesses. Needless to say, the sky is the limit for the new LGA.

Pier 17

Excellence in Mixed-Use Development – WINNER

Location: New York, NY

Developer: The Howard Hughes Corporation

Architect: SHoP Architects

Pier 17 is a major new addition to the public life of Lower Manhattan, home to a wide range of uses that contribute to the vitality and continuity of public space along the waterfront. The 212,000-square-foot mixed-use building has quickly established itself as a dynamic and much-needed year-round community anchor, as The Howard Hughes Corporation continues to revitalize the historic Seaport neighborhood, in close partnership with local organizations including the South Street Seaport Museum. Designed by ShoP Architects, Pier 17 features a mix of creative office space including ESPN’s new live broadcast studio along with restaurants and bars, and a 1.5-acre rooftop community amenity and performance venue that has become one of the most iconic outdoor concert venues in the U.S. The Rooftop at Pier 17 offers a one-of-a-kind visitor experience with panoramic views of the city skyline and exceptional hospitality and culinary experiences. During the colder months, The Rooftop has transitioned to a winter-themed experience, featuring the city’s first open-air rooftop ice rink and in recent years The Greens, a unique indoor and outdoor dining experience that evolves with the seasons. In a combination of functionality, innovation, and design integrity, a glass façade “Lightband” wraps around levels three and four. Spanning over 37,000 square feet and comprised of 2,000 fixtures spread out over 50 glass bays, the Lightband can portray an infinite spectrum of programmable vibrant colors, turning Pier 17 into an illuminated beacon in the cityscape that embodies the creativity and innovation within. A series of six two-story boxes comprise the “Pier Village” on the ground floor, extending the essence of the city grid onto the pier and preserving exceptional view corridors to the East River and Brooklyn Bridge. A collection of waterfront restaurants by culinary powerhouses have transformed Pier 17 into a thriving downtown destination. An integral part of the Seaport’s revitalization, Pier 17 has leveraged the district’s rich history as the city’s birthplace of innovation to create a year-round destination that invites New Yorkers—residents and visitors alike—to reclaim their relationship with Lower Manhattan’s iconic and historic waterfront neighborhood.