ULI New York annual awards gala to be held on April 29, 2026

Manhattan, NY ULI New York will hold the 10^th Annual Awards for Excellence in Development Gala, on April 29, 2026. Applications are now being accepted for the state’s leading awards program celebrating innovation, design, and community impact in real estate development. Finalists will be named in January 2026, and winners will be celebrated at the gala dinner, which brings together hundreds of industry leaders, at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in Midtown.

Since 1979, the Urban Land Institute (ULI) has celebrated transformative projects worldwide through its Global Awards for Excellence, widely recognized as the development industry’s most prestigious awards program. The ULI New York Awards for Excellence in Development carry that tradition forward at the local level. recognizing innovative real estate projects across New York State that embody ULI’s mission to shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide.

“Real estate isn’t just about buildings. It’s about shaping the fabric of our city,” said Helen Hwang, ULI New York chair and senior executive managing director at Meridian Investment Sales. “Every project has the potential to spark growth, foster connection, and improve daily life for New Yorkers. The Awards for Excellence Gala is our chance to shine a spotlight on the teams and ideas that turn that potential into reality. Aligned with ULI’s mission to create meaningful impact through the built environment, we’re proud to honor those whose work leaves a lasting mark on our communities.”

ULI New York’s Awards for Excellence honor the full development process, including architecture, design, planning, and community impact. The seven awards categories are: Office Development, Market-Rate Housing Development, Affordable Housing Development, Mixed-Use Development, Adaptive Reuse, Civic & Institutional Development, and Urban Open Space. The program is open to the entire industry—private, public, and nonprofit projects across New York State are welcome to apply (except for projects in Westchester County, which is part of ULI Westchester/Fairfield). To qualify, a project must be completed, in whole or in phases, on or after January 1, 2020, and must be finished, occupied, and in operation for its intent and purpose before September 3, 2025.

“New York is a unique place that drives innovation in development and placemaking and the Awards for Excellence recognize real estate and land use professionals whose work continually raises the bar from a planning, design, sustainability and resilience, and community impact perspective,” said Rachel Loeb, ULI New York Awards for Excellence in Development chair and chief investment officer, Benenson Capital Partners. “I’m honored and excited to work with ULI New York to celebrate their efforts to shape the built environment in ways that contribute to the vitality and prosperity of communities across our state.”

After the application window closes on October 24, the awards committee will evaluate the applications and will nominate finalists in December 2025. Finalists will be announced in January 2026. The Awards Committee is comprised of ULI New York members who span the spectrum of all segments of the New York real estate industry. They include owners, developers, investors, architects, brokers, urban planners, attorneys, and engineers.

ULI New York Awards for Excellence in Development Chair:

Rachel Loeb, Chief Investment Officer, Benenson Capital Partners

Committee members:

Onur Akansel, Managing Partner, Seal Investment

Victor Amoo, Managing Principal, The Portland Group

Forth Bagley, Principal, KPF

Sonia Kaur Bain, Partner, Blank Rome LLP

Christie Chen, Managing Director, Oxford Properties Group

Nancy Doon, AICP, Managing Director, New York City Office, VHB

George Evans, Director, Goulston & Storrs

Julia Gamolina, Associate Principal, Director of Business Development, Ennead Architects

Karen Horstmann, Managing Director, Real Estate, US, CDPQ