Recent News & Events

01 July 2025

C+GA Awarded in Fifth Round of Buildings of Excellence Competition

Press Release

July 1, 2025

Curtis + Ginsberg Architects
Contact: marketing@cplusga.com

Curtis + Ginsberg Architects Awarded in Fifth Round of Buildings of Excellence Competition

Competition Highlights Model Projects to Bring Energy-Efficient Multifamily Buildings to Scale in New York State

Three Curtis + Ginsberg Architects (C+GA) projects were recently awarded in Round Five of New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) Buildings of Excellence Competition (Competition) for the design of energy-efficient multifamily buildings. This Competition aims to advance best-in-class, energy efficient multifamily buildings in New York by providing financial awards and recognition for zero emission or carbon-neutral ready buildings that are healthier for residents and their communities, supporting the State’s transition to a clean energy economy.

Curtis + Ginsberg Architects Managing Partner Darby Curtis said, “C+GA is honored to receive NYSERDA’s Buildings of Excellence Award for 77 William Street, located within a New York State designated disadvantaged community (DAC) in Newburgh, Kissena House in Flushing, Queens and Seneca in Harlem. This funding will help us advance innovative and replicable sustainable design in new construction focused on multifamily housing, supporting seniors and other vulnerable populations, and meeting our mission of building environmental and social resilience in the communities in which we work.”

77 William Street in Newburgh, NY is a new 46-unit, five-story building in a 100% affordable, supportive housing development with two existing three-story historic buildings to be substantially renovated. The buildings include units for formerly homeless people, survivors of domestic violence, and elderly residents. The project will be an inspiring example of how both new and existing construction can be climate-friendly and resilient by using all-electric and energy efficient systems with low operational and embodied carbon. The complex design complements the historic neighborhood character and helps revitalize the street, contributing to Newburgh’s recovery from years of disinvestment and blight. Safe Harbors of the Hudson will be the operator and social service provider. Curtis + Ginsberg Architects designed the project along with Bright Power and Dagher Engineering.

Selfhelp Realty Group’s Kissena House, will be an affordable, residential building, located within a DAC in Flushing, Queens, and a model for resilient and sustainable design practices in housing for older adults. The new 111-unit, 8-story, all-electric building designed to Passive House standards, features geothermal heating, cooling, and hot water, solar canopy, off-site built panelized façade system, and site and building resiliency measures including an emergency generator. Selfhelp Kissena House will add to a robust, affordable older adult housing campus with community and health centers, large outdoor recreational spaces, and other resident amenities. Its textured façade will create the effect of a geode nestled into and enhancing the campus. Selfhelp will be the operator and social service provider. Curtis + Ginsberg Architects designed the project along with Steven Winter Associates and AMA Group/Skyline Engineering.

Seneca West 110th Street is an approximately 147,000 SF, mixed-use, affordable, new construction housing development located on the site of the former Lincoln Correctional Facility in Harlem. Located within a DAC, this project will create 105 affordable, homeownership units for households earning 80% and 100% AMI and will deliver vibrant cultural and educational uses to the neighborhood. At 22 stories, Seneca will be the tallest, 100% affordable homeownership project meeting Phius CORE certification in New York City. The project’s all-electric design and innovative heating and cooling systems will significantly reduce building-wide energy usage, and serve as a replicable model for implementing highly sustainable, resilient practices in a cost-effective manner that maximizes long-term benefits for future homeowners and residents. Curtis + Ginsberg Architects designed the project along with MaGrann Associates and AMA Group/Skyline Engineering.

The Buildings of Excellence Competition, launched in March 2019, is a $83 million initiative that has awarded 75 exemplary multifamily new construction demonstration projects to date. Within the initiative, $2 million in Early Design Support funding has been awarded to architecture and design firms to enhance capabilities to design toward carbon neutral standards. It is the only competition of its kind, with the awarded projects becoming part of a comprehensive data collection effort that will help determine how to cost-effectively deliver superior performing buildings that will serve as an essential building block of a carbon-neutral future and advance the design and construction of multifamily buildings. The Competition, administered by NYSERDA, leverages the support of an advisory council comprising a cross-section of experts from the design, real estate and sustainability sectors with partners, including American Institute of Architects New York State, ASHRAE and The Real Estate Board of New York. Round Six of the Competition is currently open and accepting applications for multifamily projects until September 17, 2025. For a complete list of the winning projects statewide, please visit NYSERDA’s Buildings of Excellence website.

77 William Street, Kissena House and Seneca were selected under Round Five for their energy-efficient performance, resiliency attributes, profitability, ability to be adopted broadly, and for creating a healthy and safe living environment. C+GA projects have won nine Demonstration Project awards in Rounds 1, 3, 4 and 5 as well as four Early Design Support grants in Rounds 2, 3 and 4.

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “The Buildings of Excellence Competition awards projects that advance efficient, modern building design and construction in support of healthier homes for all New Yorkers. Congratulations to Curtis + Ginsberg Architects on their three awarded projects, which embody the spirit of the Competition by demonstrating innovative multifamily building solutions that further New York State’s efforts toward a clean energy economy.”

These projects will also provide comprehensive data on design, construction and cost that can be analyzed and shared to increase the number of carbon neutral buildings in New York State.

Photo credit: NYSERDA