The Municipal Art Society has convened a panel of renowned architects, developers and design experts to serve on its 2010 MASterworks Awards Committee. Launched in 2001, the MASterworks Awards celebrate new development in New York City by honoring excellence in architecture and urban design.

The 2010 Awards Committee members are Vishaan Chakrabarti, Marc Holliday Professor, Columbia University GSAPP and Founding Principal, VCDC, Thomas Woltz, principal, Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects, Paola Antonelli, senior curator of architecture and design at MoMA, Toshiko Mori, Robert P. Hubbard Professor in the Practice of Architecture at Harvard University Graduate School of Design and principal, Toshiko Mori Architect, and Alan Suna, developer and CEO, Silvercup Studios. Continue Reading>>

The Sheila C. Johnson Design Center at Parsons The New School for Design was the setting for the 2009 MASterwork Awards ceremony. The outstanding renovation/adaptive reuse of the Center was an exciting backdrop for honoring this year’s winners. Bob Kerry, President of the New School gave some welcoming remarks which were followed by the ceremony.  The video above captures the essence of each winner.

Each year, the Municipal Art Society honors the year’s top building projects for their excellence in architecture and urban design, and their contribution to New York’s built environment. For more information, visit www.mas.org/masterworks.

The winners of the 2009 MASterwork Awards are The Standard Hotel for Best New Building, the Times Square TKTS Booth for Best Neighborhood Catalyst, the Sheila C. Johnson Design Center at Parsons, The New School for Design for Best Renovation/Adaptive Reuse, and The Lion House at the Bronx Zoo for Best Restoration.

Launched in 2001, the MASterwork Awards recognize excellence in architecture and urban design, and are organized annually by MAS and sponsored by Helaba, Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen, the international banking and investment group. The four awards presented this year are for projects completed in 2008.

“The MASterwork Awards celebrate the year’s ingenuity in architecture and design across various building types,” said Vin Cipolla, president of MAS. “Year after year, MAS is continually impressed by the way these projects influence the way all of us view and live in the city.” Continue Reading>>

The deadline for nominations to our 2009 MASterwork Awards has just been extended to 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 2. So, if you have been responsible for, or know of a project completed within the 2008 calendar year that you wish to nominate, please contact Genevieve Sherman on 212-935-3960 or gsherman@mas.org.

Learn more about the MASterwork Awards here.

Now that 2008 is drawing to a close we are again seeking nominations for our 2009 MASterwork Awards.  Each year, the Municipal Art Society honors the year’s top building projects for their excellence in architecture and urban design, and their contribution to New York’s built environment. This year’s Awards Committee will be considering New York City projects that are completed within the 2008 calendar year.

If you have been responsible for, or know of a recently completed project that you wish to nominate, please download and fill out a nomination form. Nominations are due by January 31, 2009. Continue Reading>>

MAS President Kent Barwick released a statement yesterday urging the City to save Astroland; the amusement park announced yesterday that it will close forever this Sunday, unable to negotiate an extension on their lease with Thor Equities (New York Times; New York Post; Bloomberg.com).

The MASterwork award winning Diane von Furstenberg Studio Headquarters boasts one of the most spectacular and technologically advanced skylights in the city (New York Sun)

In other news, the final hearing of the State Economic Development Corporation yesterday on the proposed Columbia University expansion again revealed the opposition between local business owners and the local development corporation Continue Reading>>

The environmentally innovative New York Times Building and the brilliant design of the IAC Building took MASterwork Awards for Best New Building at last week’s award ceremony. The restoration of the magnificent Eldridge Street Synagogue into the Museum at Eldridge Street and the skillful conversion of two late 19th century buildings in the Meatpacking District into Diane Von Furstenburg (DVF) Studio Headquarters took honors for the Best Historic Restoration. The Floating Pool and the New Museum of Contemporary Art received awards for Best Neighborhood Catalyst. Continue Reading>>

Sponsored again this year by Helaba, Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen, MAS is seeking nominations for its 2008 MASterwork Awards honoring the year’s top projects for their excellence in architecture and urban design, and their contribution to New York’s built environment. The awards committee will consider projects completed within the 2007 calendar year in the following five categories: Best New Building; Outstanding Commercial Restoration Project; Best Residential Restoration; Neighborhood Catalyst; and Privately Owned Public Space.

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The bold, new Hearst Tower and the GM Building’s superbly redesigned Fifth Avenue Plaza, both in Midtown, have won 2007 MASterwork Awards. The skillful restoration of the Battery Maritime Building in Lower Manhattan and Red Hook’s new Fairway Market also took top honors. The awards were presented on May 9 at the GM Building’s plaza.

“Each of these distinctive projects gives New Yorkers something new to be proud of,” MAS Chairman Philip Howard said. “But at a time when the city is seeing an astonishing amount of new development and construction, it is worth noting that each of this year’s winners — albeit in very different ways — paid attention to the precepts of adaptive reuse.” Continue Reading>>