Design Commission - Twenty-Sixth Annual Design Awards

Public Design Commission


Past Design AwardsCompleted ProjectsSustainable NYCWomen-Designed NYC


Twenty-Sixth Annual Awards for Excellence in Design, July 22, 2008

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Public Design Commission President James P. Stuckey honored seven public projects for excellence in design and announced that the Art Commission was renamed the Design Commission at the 26th Annual Design Awards.

This year more than ever before, the Design Award-winning projects reflect the City's movement toward sustainable design, epitomized by PlaNYC, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's far-reaching plan to fight global warming and create a more livable city, and the Design + Construction Excellence Initiative, which was announced at the Design Awards in 2004 to foster quality design. Unveiled by Mayor Bloomberg in April 2007, the 127-point PlaNYC focuses on every facet of New York City's physical environment—its transportation network, housing, land and park system, energy network, water supply, and air quality—all combined to achieve a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

With PlaNYC in mind, the Design Commission held its awards ceremony at The Times Center, the state-of-the-art cultural center and performance space of The New York Times Building, which opened in 2007. Designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano in association with FXFOWLE Architects, The New York Times Building features numerous environmentally sustainable innovations, including a screen of ceramic rods that block half of the sun's energy; ultra-clear low-iron glass that allows abundant natural light; an advanced dimmable lighting system; and a dynamic shading system with real energy savings of 30%.

Award Recipients

Construction of streetscape improvements, including the installation of an artwork by Brian Tolle
Flatbush Avenue from Tillary Street to Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn
A Project of the Department of City Planning, the Department of Transportation, the Economic Development Corporation and the Department of Cultural Affairs' Percent for Art Program
Donna Walcavage, EDAW
Brian Tolle, Artist

Construction of the 121st Police Precinct
970 Richmond Avenue, Staten Island
A Project of the Department of Design and Construction and the Police Department
Rafael Viñoly, Rafael Viñoly Architects

Installation of signage as part of the rehabilitation of Flatbush Caton Market
814 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn
A Project of the Department of Design and Construction, the Department of Small Business Services and the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Alexandra Ching and David Akey, Department of Design and Construction

Installation of Wall Drawing #1252: Scribbles (Pier 88) by Sol LeWitt
Passenger Ship Terminal, Pier 88, West Side Highway and 48th Street, Manhattan
A Project of the Economic Development Corporation and the Department of Cultural Affairs' Percent for Art Program
Sol LeWitt, Artist

Construction of the Children's Library Center, Queens Central Library
89-25 Merrick Boulevard, Queens
A Project of the Department of Design and Construction and the Queens Library
Juergen Riehm, 1100: ARCHITECT

Construction of the Bronx River House and adjacent site work
Starlight Park, East 174th Street, the Sheridan Expressway and the Bronx River, Bronx
A Project of the Department of Parks & Recreation
Gregory Kiss, Kiss + Cathcart, Architects

Special Recognition Award

Expansion of the Hospital for Special Surgery
East 70th Street to East 72nd Street and the FDR Drive, Manhattan
A Project of the Hospital for Special Surgery in cooperation with the City of New York
Henry Smith-Miller, Smith-Miller + Hawkinson Architects
Ernesto Trindade, Cannon Design
Mostafa Elmorsi, Ysrael A. Seinuk
Robert A. Heintges, R.A. Heintges & Associates