Excelsior Awards
Deep Energy Retrofit. Submitting Firm: KG+D Architects, PC.
Photo Credit: Revette Studio
The AIANYS Excelsior & Professional Service Awards program, celebrates outstanding publicly funded projects in architecture, outdoor spaces, and public art throughout New York State. In 2023, nine projects received awards in categories such as Renovation/Addition, New Construction, and Landscape Architecture.
A diverse jury evaluated entries based on three key criteria:
- Firmness: Demonstrating design based on solid architectural and engineering principles, and responsible use of public funds.
- Commodity: Ensuring functional design that positively impacts socio-economic aspects and advances the owner’s mission.
- Delight: Achieving aesthetic harmony while respecting the context, human scale, and user needs.
Jury Chair Nancy Aber Goshow, AIA, said, “We could have given every single submission an award because all were well-designed and contributed to the social welfare and civic engagement of the communities in which they were built. We tried not to distinguish between large, well-funded projects, and smaller, perhaps less well-funded ones and did not want aesthetic presentation to overwhelm service to its community, therefore some selections may surprise. We premiated nine wonderful projects that the jury felt demonstrated the dedication and civic commitment to some very special architects.”
Projects recognized include:
- Mackey Facilities Complex Reconstruction, Cobleskill, NY, by Mosaic Associates Architects DPC
- CUNY LaGuardia Community College, Long Island City, NY, by Mitchell Giurgola
- Houghton Hall, SUNY Fredonia, Fredonia, NY, by Mitchell Giurgola
- Middletown High School Learning Commons Addition, Middletown, NY, by KG+D Architects, PC
- Binghamton University Science IV Renovation, Binghamton, NY, by Ashley McGraw Architects
- ETEC, SUNY Albany, NY, by CannonDesign
- Vital Brookdale, Brooklyn, NY, by Dattner Architects
- One World Cafe, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, by CannonDesign
- State Street Plaza, City of Auburn, NY, by Bergmann
Professional Service Awards
AIA New York State announced two Professional Service Awards during their annual Excelsior & Professional Service Awards celebration on May 4. The Professional Service Awards honor excellence in public architecture practice and advocacy.
Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller Award
This award recognizes licensed architects in the public sector whose work promotes design excellence in public architecture. Nelson Rockefeller, the 49th Governor of New York, devoted much of his life to public service.
2023 Recipient: Kelly Hayes McAlonie, FAIA, Director of Campus Planning, University at Buffalo
“Kelly has set a high bar for public architecture at UB. Her design sense, ability to inspire, and desire to teach have positioned her at the forefront of campus planning, leading teams to deliver spectacular public architecture.”
Henry Hobson Richardson Award
This award honors AIA members licensed in NYS practicing in the private sector who significantly contribute to public architecture quality. Henry Hobson Richardson, a founding father of American architecture, designed many significant public buildings in New York and the United States.
2023 Recipient: Martin D. Stein, AIA, Principal Architect, Urbahn Architects
“With nearly 70 years in practice, Marty has numerous design achievements and awards. He focuses on serving communities, solving complex problems, and passing knowledge to future generations.”
The recipients were honored at the New York State Museum in Albany on May 4, 2023.
Click here to view the video celebrating the Excelsior & Professional Service Award recipients.