About Buildings of Excellence
A Competition to Build New York’s Future.
Demonstration projects awarded through the first four rounds of the Buildings of Excellence Competition are achieving the mission of stimulating the design and development industry while modernizing New York State's multifamily building stocks.
The Competition recognizes best in class buildings, with prizes of up to $1 million for demonstration projects and up to $100,000 in funding for Early Design Support. In addition to the funding received through the Competition, eligible projects may also apply for assistance through NY-Sun and charging station programs, but limitations do exist for accessing some other types of funding from NYSERDA or utilities; details are included in the solicitation.
In April 2024, NYSERDA announced the winning projects awarded as part of the fourth round of the Competition. The award ceremony was held at the Center for Architecture, the space run by NYSERDA stakeholder AIA New York, located in New York City.
Eligible projects:
- Are located in New York State
- Use design and construction methods that are replicable and will achieve broad-based adoption by designers, developers, and consumers.
- Provide superior financial benefits for owners, and provide healthy, safe, and outstanding living environments for occupants.
- Must primarily be multifamily properties (can include less than 50% non-residential space)
- Must comply with new zero-emission homes and buildings legislation signed by Governor Kathy Hochul in May 2023
- Must be in the schematic or design development phase.
New for Round Five
- Prioritized funding for projects that utilize technologies that use the least amount of energy during peak times and rely on lower global warming potential refrigerants.
- Special consideration may be offered for projects that involve the adaptive re-use of institutional, office, or retail space to provide multifamily housing; details are included in the solicitation.
See past winners
View the winners from all 4 rounds of the Competition and learn which projects will help build New York’s carbon neutral future.