Ten timely new developments win 2024 ULI Americas Awards for Excellence

The best new developments in North America as selected by the 2024 ULI Americas Awards for Excellence have been announced by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) in continuation of a tradition that dates to 1979. The ULI's jury for this year's contest was chaired by SOM partner Doug Voigt, who said he and his colleagues were "impressed by the high caliber of entries, notably the diversity of projects tackling the affordable housing crisis" included in this year's field.

Projects selected from the 18-entry shortlist will have elevated the practice of development in line with the awards' intentions to promote social, environmental, and design innovation. Over the years, the winners have touched on a host of other contemporary issues. This year's crop was no different, offering solutions to a range of social justice questions while promoting both sustainbility, the possbilities for alternative financing models, and overall power of design through their efforts and consideration.

The winners will next compete against projects from the Europe and Asia Pacific regions for the ULI Global Awards for Excellence. The results are expected to be announced in the fall. The ten ULI Americas Awards for Excellence winners for 2024 are:

550 Madison, New York, NY, by Snøhetta; Gensler; Rockwell Group for The Olayan Group

ULI description: "The project, completed in 2022, transformed the single-tenant tower into a contemporary multi-tenant property that has quickly attracted world-class tenants. The Olayan Group was meticulous in the design and execution of the repositioning for New York City’s youngest landmark, engaging visionary international design firms Snøhetta, Gensler and Rockwell Group to honor Johnson’s creation while reinterpreting the building for the way people live and work today. The project includes a thoughtfully landscaped outdoor public garden– a triumph of sustainability and the largest green space in Midtown East, which includes the first gender-inclusive public restrooms in the city. This innovative project embraces nature as an amenity not just for building tenants, but for area residents and visitors. The 550 Garden provides a blueprint for the reawakening of urban space, and prioritizes sustainability in its effort to adapt existing spaces for their contemporary contex."

Austin Housing Conservancy, Austin, TX, by Former Mayor Steve Adler and staff; David Steinwedell; ULI Terwilliger Center; Housing Authority of the City of Austin; NeighborWork; HousingWorks; ULI Austin; Kirk Rudy – Endeavor; Steve LeBlanc –CapRidge; ARA Newmark; Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust Company; Employee Retirement System of Texas; Kathy Tyler (Program winner)

ULI description: "The Austin Housing Conservancy Fund (Fund) is the first housing affordability fund in the nation to combine a non-profit investment manager (Affordable Central Texas or ACT) with an open-end private equity fund, changing the way affordable multifamily properties can be funded, acquired, and preserved, utilizing an innovative private investment option for long term preservation.  The Fund preserves workforce housing for nurses, teachers, musicians and other low-to-moderate income households earning primarily 80% and below median family income (MFI).  Annual rent rate growth at portfolio properties is limited to annual regional MFI increases published by HUD, providing a level of rental growth certainty that market rate fluctuations do not deliver.   In addition, to ensure positive outcomes for the residents, ACT provides social wraparound programs to create community and provide financial, healthcare, nutrition, and educational improvement opportunities for residents to increase the chance for success.  The Fund has a long-term goal of preserving 10,000 units in greater Austin with 2,150 units being acquired in its first five years totaling 14 properties with over $400 million in value."

Avivo Village, Minneapolis, MN, by AWH Architects for Avivo (Equitable Development winner)

ULI description: "Avivo Village, spanning 48,600 square feet, has provided sanctuary and support for individuals experiencing homelessness and living outdoors. The project originated as a response to the crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and racial disparities highlighted during the Black Lives Matter protests and civil unrest perpetuated by the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Avivo Village successfully bridges the gap between traditional shelters and permanent housing. Situated within an existing warehouse in a historically redlined area, the village offers individual tiny homes paired with trauma-informed care, housing assistance, and wrap-around services to its residents." 

Bottleworks District, Indianapolis, IN, by RATIO Design and EUA for Hendricks Commercial Properties

ULI description: "Bottleworks District is a $300+ million, 12-acre mixed-use development that has masterfully integrated past and present by reimagining Indy’s iconic Coca-Cola bottling property. The largest private development of its type in Indiana, Bottleworks serves as a culinary, arts, and entertainment hub, featuring the city’s first food hall, a boutique hotel, unique retail, and office space. Future phases include additional retail, office, and residential components. What sets this project apart is its creative reuse of a historical manufacturing plant and service garages into a luxury hotel and food hall. The historical buildings featured the full restoration of the largest terracotta facades in Indiana. In addition, the new construction has added modern office space, a parking garage, and an 8-screen cinema."

Canary Landing – Maple House, Toronto, ON, by COBE, architects-Alliance, CCxA, and DesignAgency for Dream Asset Management; Kilmer Group; Tricon Residential

ULI description: "In 2017, Infrastructure Ontario completed a competitive RFP and selected Dream, Kilmer, and Tricon to develop a twelve-acre, 2,500-unit purpose-built rental community with 30% affordable apartments. The first phase of our work, Maple House, is a pioneering residential community with an egalitarian ethos: using an innovative 'checkerboard' approach, market and affordable units are randomly integrated throughout the community, all units are finished to the same high standards, and all residents have access to the same amenities and services. Maple House is not solely designed for young professionals: nearly half of the building’s 770 rental homes have two- to four-bedroom layouts, providing housing options for families at both market and below-market rates."

Cleveland Foundation Headquarters, Cleveland, OH, by S9 Architecture; Vocon; Arlene Watson; Nolan Beck Rivera; Communication Exhibits Inc. Merritt Chase; DERU Landscape Architecture; Osborn; Karpinski; Better Together Solar; and StructureCraft for The Cleveland Foundation (Equitable Development winner)

ULI description: "The Cleveland Foundation’s goal with its new headquarters was not simply to build an office building but to make a transformative place-based investment aligned with its mission and values. The 55,000-square -foot LEED-Gold-certified headquarters was conceived to fundamentally change the way the world’s first community foundation engages with the community it serves, while also changing the conversation and catalyzing equitable development in Cleveland’s historically redlined near east side neighborhoods.  In the headquarters’ design, the industrial grid building common to the neighborhood is reimagined through mass timber construction, with a warm wood and glass façade that is transparent and welcoming. Designed for the future of work, with flexible office and meeting areas, the building dedicates half of its footprint to spaces that are open to the community, including a public café, dance and multipurpose studio, conference center and art exhibition space."

East Campus Modernization Project, Redmond, WA, by ZGF; LMN; NBBJ; Berger; CoughlinPorter, Lundeen; B+H Architects; Affiliated Engineers, Inc.; and AECOM for Microsoft (Low-Carbon Development winner)

ULI description: "Built at an urban scale, the campus promotes walkability and interactions. A Pedestrian Bridge connects the campus, enhancing access to transit. The wellness theme is integrated throughout with bike accessibility, recreation areas, sports fields, and walking trails. The architecture and built landscape bring employees together through inspiring and unique activity- and experience-based programming. A wide array of amenities offers employees conveniences and spaces to innovate and collaborate, while driving energy and engagement in the workplace. Four- and five-story buildings with atriums and upper-level terraces infuse interior spaces with daylight. Employees enjoy flexible office spaces with team-based open plan neighborhoods surrounded by breakout zones for collaboration and social interactions. At ground level, retail spaces and food services create a sense of activity and energy, and indoor-outdoor experiences seamlessly bridge the built and natural environments."

Lincoln Common, Chicago, IL, by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in association with Antunovich Associates for McCaffery and Hines

ULI description: "Located in the heart of Chicago’s diverse Lincoln Park neighborhood, the site upon which Lincoln Common sits was previously home to Children’s Memorial Hospital. When the hospital relocated in 2012, the site was left vacant and dilapidated, and surrounding businesses that depended on the hospital’s traffic shuttered. Hospital stakeholders needed to reposition the asset to support its 100+ year mission and the Alderman and neighbors desired a new community asset that would return vibrancy and vitality to the neighborhood. In short, the neighborhood faced the potential of an unexpected crisis."

Mill Creek Valley – Pillars of the Valley, St. Louis, MO, by Lamar Johnson Collaborative (Lead); Damon Davis (Artist); David Mason & Associates (Civil Engineering); Introba (Electrical Engineering); Reed Burkett Lighting Design (Lighting) for St. Louis City SC and Great Rivers Greenway (Urban Open Space winner)

ULI description: "Pillars of the Valley Plaza traces the neighborhood’s legacy both physically and symbolically and sheds light on its complex history through the integration of hardscape and landscape interventions that vary in subtlety. One intervention, a powerful public art installation called 'Pillars of the Valley' anchors the site and links the greenway segment along Market Street from CITYPARK to Harris-Stowe State University. The installation, by a St. Louis resident and nationally acclaimed artist, Damon Davis, manifests the idea to 'uncover and excavate the things that were buried.' A set of eight black granite pillars, each featuring a white limestone wedge set in the top half, represent hourglasses frozen in time."

Omaha RiverFront Revitalization, Omaha, NE, by OJB Landscape Architecture; HDR; Gensler; Atelier Ten and Safdie Rabines Architects for City of Omaha (owner); The Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority (MECA) (operator) (Urban Open Space winner)

ULI description: 'The transformation of three parks in downtown Omaha’s core, collectively known as The RiverFront, has revolutionized the community’s relationship with urban green spaces. Despite their nearly six-decade history, these neighboring parks had grown stagnant over time, with disjointed access leading to dwindling utilization. Complicating matters further, one park was situated amidst a largely metropolitan backdrop, while the other two contended with challenges as remediated brownfields. The Omaha Riverfront Revitalization Project breathed new life into the trio of parks, forging a cohesive, highly programmed and amenity-rich expanse spanning 72 acres near the Missouri River."