Advisors

Blue Ribbon for Design Excellence Jury 

Beginning in Round 2, proposals have been reviewed and evaluated based on design criteria such as building and unit design, space functionality and use by occupants, site context, and integration of energy saving and resiliency measures into overall design goals. The Competition is honored to have the following distinguished professionals serve as jurors:

Round 4:

• Illya Azaroff, FAIA – Founding Principal at +LAB Architect PLCC, Associate Professor at New York City College of Technology, 2023-2025 AIA National At-Large Director COP-27 Delegate, 2021 President AIA New York State, AIA New York State Disaster Co-Coordinator, member of Resilient 21, and founding director of KIGRR. Illya is an internationally recognized leader in disaster mitigation, resilient planning, and design strategies.
• Arthur Liu, AIA - Design Director at Studio Gang Architects and Lecturer at Parsons School of Design. Arthur has extensive experience in public and residential building projects.
• Julie Nelson, AIA – Partner at BKSK Architects. Julie leads the design process on a range of complex institutional and commercial projects and serves as partner-in-charge of sustainability at BKSK.
• Stacie Wong, AIA – Principal at Gluck+. Stacie has considerable design and construction experience in both educational and residential projects.

Round 3:

• Illya Azaroff, FAIA – Founding Principal at +LAB Architect PLCC, Associate Professor at New York City College of Technology, 2023-2025 AIA National At-Large Director COP-27 Delegate, 2021 President AIA New York State, AIA New York State Disaster Co-Coordinator, member of Resilient 21, and founding director of KIGRR. Illya is an internationally recognized leader in disaster mitigation, resilient planning, and design strategies.
• Pam Campbell, AIA – Partner at COOKFOX Architects. Pam has completed many commercial and residential projects and has a strong knowledge of biophilic and sustainable design.
• Arthur Liu, AIA - Design Director at Studio Gang Architects and Lecturer at Parsons School of Design. Arthur has extensive experience in public and residential building projects.
• Julie Nelson, AIA – Partner at BKSK Architects. Julie leads the design process on a range of complex institutional and commercial projects and serves as partner-in-charge of sustainability at BKSK.
• Stacie Wong, AIA – Principal at Gluck+. Stacie has considerable design and construction experience in both educational and residential projects.

Round 2:

• Illya Azaroff, FAIA – Founding Principal at +LAB Architect PLCC, Associate Professor at New York City College of Technology, 2023-2025 AIA National At-Large Director COP-27 Delegate, 2021 President AIA New York State, AIA New York State Disaster Co-Coordinator, member of Resilient 21, and founding director of KIGRR. Illya is an internationally recognized leader in disaster mitigation, resilient planning, and design strategies.
• Andrew Bernheimer, FAIA - Principal at Bernheimer Architecture and Assistant Professor of Architecture at Parsons School of Design. Andrew has designed a great deal of multifamily housing. 
• Victor Body-Lawson, AIA – Principal at Body Lawson Associates, Architects and Planners. Victor is a very active designer of market rate and affordable housing.
• Florian Idenburg, RA, AIA-IA – Principal at SO-IL. Florian’s international practice ranges from cultural buildings to social housing.
• Ruchika Modi, AIA - Principal at PAU: Practice for Architecture and Urbanism. Ruchika participates in a wide range of services from planning and design for a large mixed-use developments in Newark, to winning the commission for a major expansion of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

The Buildings of Excellence Advisory Council

To help guide the competition and engage with participants, NYSERDA has convened an advisory council. The Council includes a cross-section of interests with State and national representation and will provide their professional opinions on project submissions, make recommendations for improvements, and help increase participation.

Meet the Advisory Council members

• Illya Azaroff, FAIA – Founding Principal at +LAB Architect PLCC, Associate Professor at New York City College of Technology, 2023-2025 AIA National At-Large Director COP-27 Delegate, 2021 President AIA New York State, AIA New York State Disaster Co-Coordinator, member of Resilient 21, and founding director of KIGRR.
• Georgi Ann Bailey: Executive Vice President, America Institute of Architects New York State
• Charles Bell: Program Director, Consumers Reports and NYSERDA Board Member
• Jenn Gustetic: Director of Early Stage Innovations and Partnerships, NASA
• Brendan Hall, PE: Mechanical Team Leader, CHA Consulting, Inc. and Government Advocacy Chair, Central NY ASHRAE Chapter
• Susan Hewitt: Partner, The Cheshire Group
• Bomee Jung: Co-founder and CEO, Cadence OneFive and Principal, Topsight Advisors LLC
• John Lee: Principal Owner, Distant Lands, and NYSERDA Senior Advisor
• Kelly Hayes McAlonie, FAIA: Director of Campus and Capital Planning, University at Buffalo and 2012 President of AIA NYS
• Mahesh Ramanujam: Global Network for Zero and CEO Rubix Network
• Silda Wall Spitzer: Director and Principal co-founder and CEO, New York Makers, vice-chairperson of Urban Green Council, advisory board member of Sustainable Endowment Institute, and an environmental leader and advocate
• Zachary Steinberg: Senior Vice President-Policy, REBNY
• Richard Yancey, FAIA: Executive Director, Building Energy Exchange
• J. Meejin Yoon: Dean of the College of Architecture, Art and Planning at Cornell University and Principal at Höweler+Yoon Architecture, LLP