Rockrose Development Corp. celebrated the completion and grand opening of the 31st floor outdoor great lawn and tenant lounge at its new rental tower Linc LIC with a broker party and the unveiling of the winner of a year-long interior design competition for students at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). Linc LIC is Rockrose's 709-unit property at 43-10 Crescent St. in Court Sq., Long Island City. The building owner held the event in the tower's duplex lounge on the 31st floor which opens onto a landscaped great lawn with panoramic Manhattan skyline views. At the evening party, Rockrose's Kathleen Gargan Scott, VP of leasing and marketing, named Paola Barraza as the winner of the Fashion Institute of Technology's first commercial real estate industry collaboration to design interiors for new residential development. For the competition, 40 FIT students submitted designs for three different model studio apartments at Linc LIC, to be built out and furnished according to a budget and specifications provided by Rockrose. The field was narrowed to 12 finalists by FIT. Then, Barraza, Katherine Stec and Gregory Bardwell were selected by Rockrose executives as the "Top Three" student designers. Rockrose built out three model apartments at Linc LIC in strict adherence to the students' interior designs, completely with furniture, fixtures and finishes. During the leasing campaign, the public was invited to vote for their favorite design among the three by visiting the apartments. Barraza placed first, Gregory Bardwell, second, and Katherine Stec, third, and all received cash awards. During the presentation of awards, Scott said, "We were delighted to work with professor Eric Daniels and his talented students at FIT for this one-of-a-kind project. The three winning designs really blew us away in terms of talent and creativity, and it's exciting to announce the winner during the grand opening of Linc LIC's roof deck." Designed for residents' relaxation and socializing, Linc LIC offers boundless opportunities for both. In addition to the 31st floor outdoor lawn and lounge, the building has a second, lower floor lounge and an elegantly furnished screening room, both with full kitchens. The building also features a children's playroom. On-site parking, a bike room and storage rooms are available at the pet-friendly Linc LIC, along with basketball and squash courts. Rockrose has also built out a bi-level, 5,650 s/f fitness center with next generation Cybex machines, treadmills, Stairmasters and stationary cycles - most with mounted audio/visual screens. Court Sq. already is a residential, retail, cultural and commercial hub, with seven subway lines located within a three-block radius of Linc LIC. Also within walking distance are some of New York City's most notable restaurants and bars, including M. Wells Steakhouse, LIC Market, Sage General Store, and Dutch Kills Bar.