Celebrating Design and Professional Excellence in New York State Public Art & Architecture.
AIA New York State, in partnership with the New York State contracting agencies, created the Excelsior Awards in 2014 to provide a model of excellence for state-funded building design, landscape architecture, and public art, including professional practice and advocacy.
2020 Excelsior Award Recipients
Submitting Firm | Dattner Architects
Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing Engineer | Lilker Associates
Civil Engineer | YU & Associates
Structural Engineer | Rodney D. Gibble Consulting Engineers
Lighting Consultant | Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design
Expediting | JM Zoning
Acoustics | Houghton Associates LLC
Landscape Architect | Weintraub Diaz Landscape Architecture
Vertical Circulation | Van Deusen & Associates
Specifications | Construction Specifications
Photo Credit | © Chris Cooper
Submitting Firm | Beardsley Design Associates Architecture, Engineering, Landscape Architecture, D.P.C.
Construction Manager | BCA Architects & Engineers
General Contractor | S.J. Thomas Company, Inc.
Mechanical Contractor | King & King Mechanical, Inc.
Electrical Contractor | Knapp Electric, Inc.
Plumbing Contractor | Brosh Mechanical, Inc.
Landscape Architect | Appel Osborne Landscape Architects
Photo Credit | © John Griebsch
Submitting Firm | Page Ayres Cowley Architecture, LLC
Construction Manager | New York City Department of Design and Construction
General Contractor | SIBA Contracting Corp.
Structural Engineer | Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
Services Engineer | ADS Engineers, DPC Surveyor | Gallas Surveying Group
Elevator Consultant | Vertical Systems Analysis
Building Code Consultant/Expeditors | Noel Building Consulting, Inc.
Photo Credit | © Ines Leong / L-INES Photo, 2020
Submitting Firm | SWBR
General Contractor | Christa Construction
Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing/Fire Protection Engineer | M/E Engineering
Site/Civil Engineer | Parrone Engineering Structural Engineer | SWBR
Environmental Engineer | Sustainable Comfort, Inc.
Interior Design | SWBR
Photo Credit | © Park Avenue Photography | Gene Avallone
Submitting Firm | WXY architecture + urban design
General Contractor | NYSOPRHP Long Island Region (Builders)
Mechanical/Electrical Engineer | Stantec Engineering
Civil Engineer | Cashin Associates
Structural Engineer | Stantec Engineering
Landscape Architect | Stantec Engineering
Photo Credit | © Albert Vecerka/Esto
Submitting Firm | Alexander Gorlin Architect LLC
General Contractor | Lettire Construction Corp
Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing Engineer | OLA Consulting Engineers, PC
Civil Engineer | JMC
Structural Engineer | Ysrael A. Seinuk, P.C. Building Code Consultant/Expeditors | Municipal Building Consultants
Specifications | Specifications Consultant CCS SCIP
Energy Consultants | Steven Winter Associates
Photo Credit | © Eric Petscheck
Submitting Firm | Perkins Eastman DPC
Construction Manager | Sciame Construction
MEP/FP Engineer | Jaros Baum & Bolles Consulting Engineers
Civil/Geotechnical Engineer | Langan
Structural Engineer | WSP
Façade Consultants | WSP Building Enclosure & ALT Cladding Limited
Lighting Consultant | Cline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design
Theater Consultant | Theater Projects
Landscape Architect | HM White
Vertical Transportation | Van Deusen & Associates
Cost Estimating | Ellana Construction Consultant
Photo Credit | © Andrew Rugge
Submitting Agency | MTA Arts & Design
Program Director | Metropolitan Transportation Authority Construction & Development
Architect | STV
General Contractor | Judlau Contracting Inc.
Artist | Ann Hamilton
Typographic Designer | Hans Cogne
Mosaic Fabricator | Mayer of Munich, Inc.
Architectural Lighting & Design | Domingo Gonzalez Associates
Photo Credit | © CHORUS (2018) © Ann Hamilton, NYCT WTC Cortlandt St Station. Commissioned by Metropolitan Transportation Authority Arts & Design. Photo: Patrick Cashin.
2020 Professional Service Awards
The Professional Awards honor excellence in practice and advocacy of design in NYS public architecture.
Daniel Patrick Moynihan Award
The Daniel Patrick Moynihan Award recognizes public officials or individuals who, through their efforts, have furthered the public’s awareness and/or appreciation of design excellence in public architecture. This award is intended to recognize members of the public who make contributions to architecture.
“As Executive Director of Strategic Planning, Brendan has guided significant development efforts that the city has enjoyed over the last decade. Brendan’s legal and urban planning expertise has been invaluable in contributing to the re-birth of Buffalo, NY.”

Henry Hobson Richardson Award
The Henry Hobson Richardson Award recognizes AIA members licensed in NYS and practicing in the private sector who have made a significant contribution to the quality of NYS public architecture and who have established a portfolio of accomplishments to that end.
“Barbara is a remarkable preservation architect whose efforts have significantly impacted the preservation and continuing viability of New York State’s historic landmarks reviving them with new uses for the public good.”
Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller Award
The Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller Award recognizes licensed architects employed in the public sector in New York State whose work on projects within their jurisdiction has furthered the cause of design excellence in public architecture.
“Ben Harrison has had a substantial impact on the built environment and creating design excellence within New York State, specifically in Putnam County, for multiple public projects.”