TENTH ANNUAL AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN DEVELOPMENT GALA CELEBRATED SEVEN PROJECTS AND SCOTT RECHLER AS THIS YEAR’S VISIONARY LEADERSHIP IN LAND USE AWARD HONOREE
Fulton Community Reentry Center, SoMA at 25 Water Street, One Madison Avenue among this year’s winners
NEW YORK – APRIL 30, 2026 – The Urban Land Institute New York (ULI New York) celebrated the tenth annual Awards for Excellence in Development on April 29, 2026, at the Ziegfeld Ballroom, presenting Scott Rechler with the 2026 Visionary Leadership in Land Use Award in recognition of his work as a transformative leader in New York City real estate, renowned for leveraging public-private partnerships to advance large-scale development.
The evening also recognized seven category-winning projects across New York State selected from a competitive field of finalists representing transformative work across housing, mixed-use development, adaptive reuse, office, infrastructure, and community-focused initiatives. Together, this year’s honorees reflect the creativity, collaboration, and forward-thinking leadership redefining neighborhoods and strengthening communities across the state.
“We are proud to honor Scott Rechler and this year’s seven outstanding development projects, each of which demonstrates how thoughtful design, innovation, and community collaboration can transform New York’s built environment,” said Helen Hwang, current ULI New York chair and senior executive managing director at Meridian Investment Sales. “Scott’s visionary leadership and longstanding commitment to partnership-driven development, alongside the achievements of this year’s project winners, reflect how bold ideas and strong collaboration can create more resilient, inclusive, and forward-looking communities.”
“The Awards for Excellence in Development showcase the ingenuity, collaboration, and resilience shaping New York’s neighborhoods today,” said Rachel Loeb, founder and managing partner at Muse Partners and ULI New York’s 2026 gala co-chair. “This year’s winners reflect the breadth of what’s possible, from adaptive reuse and sustainable housing to cutting-edge office and mixed-use projects. Scott Rechler’s leadership similarly exemplifies how vision, partnership, and long-term commitment can advance our city’s built environment while creating lasting value for the communities it serves.”
As chairman and CEO of RXR, Rechler has played a central role in shaping major urban projects, including the redevelopment of Terminal 6 at JFK Airport, the downtown New Rochelle master plan, and a 1,100-acre mixed-use project in Raleigh, North Carolina. Through these efforts, Rechler has brought together government agencies, local communities, and private stakeholders to create projects that balance economic growth with public benefit. His collaborative, strategic approach to complex development challenges has made him a trusted figure in both civic and real estate circles, demonstrating how thoughtful partnerships can transform neighborhoods and set a model for sustainable urban growth.
“I’m honored to receive this recognition from the Urban Land Institute, which has long played an important role in shaping thoughtful, forward-looking development. New York has always evolved through moments of change, and the common thread is partnership between the public and private sectors and across communities. I’ve been fortunate to work alongside people who are committed to building places that expand opportunity, strengthen neighborhoods, and stand the test of time,” said Scott Rechler, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of RXR.
The announcement of the seven Awards for Excellence in Development category winners marks the culmination of a process that began in September 2025, when ULI New York opened the submission window for projects. Fifteen finalists nominated across seven awards categories were announced in January, and a jury comprised of prominent development and land use professionals representing all major segments of the real estate industry selected the winners in March. Nominations were open to public, private, and nonprofit projects from across the state, and a wide array of submissions were considered. The prestigious development awards were presented across seven categories comprising 15 extraordinary nominees that placed innovation, responsible land use, sustainability, and best-in-class practices at the forefront of their respective development projects.
Jury members weighed each development team’s project leadership, innovation, market success, sustainability, and resiliency. Special consideration was given to how each project meets the current and future needs of its respective community. Jury members also conducted comprehensive site tours of the development projects to ensure all criteria were met throughout the development process.
Additionally, ULI New York’s Awards Leadership and the Awards Committee oversaw the submission and nomination process, the planning of the gala, and raised proceeds that will help sustain ULI New York’s mission. Winners received distinctive trophies designed to evoke New York’s skyline that were specially crafted by SITU Studio, an unconventional architecture practice located in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Highlights include the Fulton Community Reentry Center, developed by the Osborne Association in partnership with NYC HPD and HDC, which received the award for Excellence in Adaptive Reuse for transforming a 110-year-old former prison into a first-of-its-kind reentry hub with transitional housing and comprehensive support services. SoMA at 25 Water Street, developed by GFP Real Estate and Metro Loft Developers, earned the award for Excellence in Market-Rate Housing Development and is the largest completed office-to-residential conversion in the country, delivering an all-electric residential tower with 441 apartments, including affordable units, powered by renewable energy and shaped by extensive community input.
One Madison Avenue, developed by SL Green Realty Corp. and Hines, received the award for Excellence in Office Development for its transformative reimagining of a landmark Midtown South site, seamlessly fusing a historic limestone base with a modern glass tower to create a next-generation workplace defined by light-filled spaces, expansive terraces, and best-in-class sustainability and design innovation. Full ist of winners below:
2026 Awards for Excellence in Development Winners
- Fulton Community Reentry Center (Excellence in Adaptive Reuse) – New York, NY
Developer: Osborne Association in partnership with NYC HPD and HDC - SoMA at 25 Water Street (Excellence in Market-Rate Housing Development) – New York, NY
Developer: GFP Real Estate and Metro Loft Developers - One Madison Avenue (Excellence in Office Development) – New York, NY
Developer: SL Green Realty Corp. and Hines - The Eliza + Inwood Library – Joseph and Sheila Rosenblatt Building (Excellence in Affordable Housing Development) – New York, NY
Developer: Ranger Properties; Housing Workshop; Community League of the Heights; The Children’s Village; Alembic Community Development; with NYC partners and the New York Public Library
Description: Delivers 174 affordable housing units alongside a public library and community space, setting a new standard for sustainable, mixed-use development rooted in community needs.
- Delta’s Terminal C at LaGuardia Airport (Excellence in Civic & Institutional Development) – Queens, NY
Developer: Delta Air Lines and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Description: A $4 billion project unifying Terminals C and D into a seamless, state-of-the-art facility that redefines the passenger experience and establishes a modern, accessible gateway to New York City.
- Urban League Empowerment Center (Excellence in Mixed-Use Development) – New York, NY
Developer: BRP Companies; L+M Development Partners; The Prusik Group; Taconic Partners; with public partners
Description: A 17-story project delivering affordable housing, office space, and community retail, anchoring the National Urban League’s return to Harlem while fostering economic opportunity and neighborhood growth.
- East Midtown Greenway (Excellence in Urban Open Space) – New York, NY
Developer: NYCEDC; owned by NYC Parks
Description: An in-water public park extending the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway along the East River, providing resilient, climate-forward open space while expanding public access to the waterfront.
For more information about the Awards, visit https://nygala.uli.org/home/
For images and to learn more about the people behind the 15 outstanding finalist projects visit https://nygala.uli.org/2026-five-minutes-with/
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About the Urban Land Institute New York
The mission of the Urban Land Institute is to shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide. ULI New York carries out this work in the greater New York area by promoting an open exchange of ideas, information, and experience among industry leaders and policy makers dedicated to creating sustainable, resilient, and inclusive communities. Our volunteer experts also serve local communities through simulated urban planning workshops in classrooms, and by providing pro-bono expert guidance to city agencies prior to complex zoning, mass transit, and community revitalization projects. The organization invests in the professional and personal development of the next generation of community and real estate industry leaders. ULI is a global non-profit headquartered in Washington, D.C. with more than 48,000 members in 84 nations worldwide. For more information, visit https://newyork.uli.org/.