The Urban Land Institute (ULI) has selected 12 developments as winners in the 35th annual ULI Global Awards for Excellence competition, widely recognized as the land use industry’s most prestigious recognition program. The program—which honors real estate projects that achieve a high standard of excellence in design, construction, economics, planning, and management—is the centerpiece of the Institute’s efforts to identify and promote best practices in all types of real estate development.
According to jury chair M. Leanne Lachman, president of Lachman Associates, New York City, this year’s winning projects showcase efforts that have both succeeded in pushing ingenuity and exemplifying best practices in land use. “The 2013 ULI Global Award winners offer 12 remarkable projects that cover a broad geographic range, very diverse project typologies, and several models of development. And yet they all highlight a common thread: a committed contribution to a healthy living environment through responsible real estate development, and a dedication to building enduring communities,” said Lachman.
The winners (developers and architects in parentheses) are:
- 21c Museum Hotel Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A. (Developer: 21c Museum Hotels; Designers: Deborah Berke Partners et al.) - Renewal of a downtown enclave with an innovative model pivoting on the integration of an art museum and a hotel.
- Altmarkt-Galerie Dresden, Dresden, Germany - (Developer: ECE Projektmanagement GmbH & Co. KG; Designers: ECE architects et al.) – Large-scale commercial development integrated in the historic city fabric.
- Amazon.com Global Headquarters, Seattle, Washington, U.S.A. (Developer: Vulcan Inc.; Designers: NBBJ, LMN Architects et al.) - Multibuilding office complex project blending seamlessly into an emerging neighborhood.
- D-Cube City, Seoul, South Korea (Developer: Daesung Industrial Co. Ltd.; Designers: Jerde Partnership, Samoo et al.) - Public district that integrates a new model for urban renewal and smart density, as well as mixed-use, transit-oriented development.
- HafenCity Hamburg (New Downtown City district), Hamburg, Germany (Developer: HafenCity Hamburg GmbH; Designers: ASTOC, EMBT et al.) - Implementation of a master plan that expands the inner city of Hamburg toward the Elbe River by redeveloping the adjacent former port area into a completely new downtown area.
- Hysan Place, Hong Kong, China (Developer: Hysan Development Company Limited; Designers: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, HK Ltd., et al.) - Sustainable office space introduced in a shopping district, articulating green spaces and enhanced productivity.
- Midtown Detroit, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. (Developer: Midtown Detroit Inc.) - Innovative approach to the revitalization of an inner-city district.
- Roosevelt University Student Living, Academic and Recreation Center, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. (Developer: John Buck Company; Development manager: Jones Lang LaSalle; Designer: VOA Associates Inc.) - Modeling the “vertical campus” in the city with an integration of classrooms, administrative offices, and sustainable student spaces.
- Station Center, Union City, California (Developer: MidPen Housing Corp.; Designer: David Baker + Partners) - Mixed-use, transit-oriented city center development for mixed-income residents.
- Territoria 3000, Santiago de Chile, Chile (Developer: Territoria; Designer: Handel Architects) - Complex land assembly that generates an iconic mixed-use block in the city.
- UC Davis West Village, Davis, California (Developer: West Village Community Partnership LLC; Designers: Studio E Architects et al.) - Mixed-use neighborhood developed as a zero-net-energy community.
- Via Verde - the Green Way, New York, New York (Developers: Phipps Houses, Jonathan Rose Companies; Designers: Dattner Architects & Grimshaw ) - Model sustainable and affordable housing adding to the revitalization of the neighborhood.
The Awards for Excellence program, established in 1979, is based on ULI’s guiding principle that the achievement of excellence in land use practice should be recognized and rewarded. ULI’s Awards for Excellence recognize the full development process of a project, not just its architecture or design. The criteria for the awards include leadership, contribution to the community, innovations, public/private partnership, environmental protection and enhancement, response to societal needs, and financial viability.
Over the years, the Awards for Excellence program has evolved from the recognition of one development in North America to an international competition with multiple winners. Throughout the program’s history, all types of projects have been recognized for their excellence, including office, residential, recreational, urban/mixed-use, industrial/office park, commercial/retail, new community, rehabilitation, and public projects and programs.
