Migrant Garden is an innovative project born from the interest and concern for the delicate ecosystem that lives on De Pinedo island, on the River Po. In this wildlife site, which includes also a large area of scrub along the river, many rare species of migrant birds come to nest.

Following several invasive procedures, such as the progressive deforestation of the area, the habitat of these rare species has been put at risk even by forcing some birds to migrate to other (urban) places.

Migrant Garden will participate at Lake Como Design Fair 2019, a unique event which will bring together architecture and design lovers in Como city between September 20-22, this year dedicated to the color theme curated by Andreas Kofler and Margherita Ratti.

It will be presented a brand-new installation of eight bird houses by Beniamino Servino, Camilo Rebelo, Fala Atelier, Gonzalo del Val, Mobo Architects, Perry Kulper, Purini Thermes and Rudy Ricciotti and a gallery of works of art made by all the forty invited designers. During the three days the exposed objects, including the works of art and the exhibition catalogue, will be sold.

On October 14th Migrant Garden will launch migrantgardenshop.com, an online platform selling all the bird houses, which revenues will be donated to a charity organization.

Interior designer Vanessa Deleon of Vanessa Deleon Associates, an award-winning interior design firm based in NYC, hosted a party at her NJ home in collaboration with True Residential. As an ambassador for True, Vanessa’s home (including her stunning rooftop area) is decked out with an assortment of True refrigeration options—from indoor/outdoor undercounter units to 30” Dual Zone Wine Columns and more.

As coordinators for the event, the Novità team headed over to the party along with an impressive guest list of fantastic local designers, influencers, media, and other movers and shakers in the design world. Guests arriving from Manhattan were treated to a scenic ride across the Hudson river thanks to NY Waterway. Upon arriving at Vanessa’s home, guests were greeted with the smooth sounds of Acute Inflections, who strategically dressed in black and copper to match the kitchen’s True Residential custom refrigerator and general motif; they even prepared songs related to True refrigerators for an extra special touch! Everyone mixed and mingled before Steve Trulaske, CEO and grandson of True Residential’s founder, talked a bit about what makes the company so special. A family-owned American brand since 1945, Trulaske celebrated the company’s beginnings, its American-made products, and a long history of craftsmanship. Vanessa shared her positive experience with the company and its products, not only as an ambassador but as one very happy customer.

Vanessa followed up her speech with a floor-by-floor tour of her home, concluding at the fabulous rooftop where there was a sizable pool area with a mermaid lounging in the hot tub. The views from the rooftop of the city and the water made it the perfect setting for drinks and hors d’oeuvres. There were even more True appliances on the rooftop, impressing guests with two of True’s Dual Zone 30” Wine Columns in stainless steel with brass hardware prominently on display. Another big hit of the night was the Matte Black True 48 Fridge with copper hardware in Vanessa’s kitchen. The design of the kitchen seemed to be an extension of her matte black and copper True fridge. The unit’s customized color palette was carried out throughout the rest of the kitchen.

Talent runs in the family: Vanessa’s husband, Bobby Bournias, chef and owner of Brownstone Pancake Factory in Edgewater, NJ, took on the task of catering the night. Waiters passed a large selection of delicious hors d’oeuvres. Crowd favorites included a dish of braised short rib over polenta and of course, the mini apple pies! To end the night, Vanessa revealed some customized cake pops featuring an exact mini replica of her True Matte Black and Copper True 48” Fridge.

Photo courtesy of Crystal Ann Interiors

Some of the guests that attended the party with True ranged from interior designers and influencers to refrigeration industry experts and lovers. House Tipster even attended and filmed a recap of the event.

The interior designers that attended were David Santiago of Casa Santi Interior Design, Nicholas Moriarty of Nicholas Moriarty Interiors, Linda Wagner of Barrett Wagner Interior Design, John Douglas Eason of John Douglas Eason Interior Design, Holly George of Holly George Interior Design, Miriam Makram, Tim Roman of Imperial Kitchen & Bath, Diana Mosher of Diana Mosher Associates, and Crystal Ann of Crystal Ann Interiors.

Also in attendance were a variety of lifestyle and design influencers including Shauna Neely of Shauna’s Stage, Kate Rumson of The Real Houses of Instagram, and Crystal Ann of Crystal Ann Interiors.

This event was, however, not exclusive to those in the interior design industry. Ricardo Monge, artist and founder of Monge Art, also attended as well as Mike Asquith, project manager at ECS Homes. LuAnn Nigara, the voice behind A Well-Designed Business podcast, was also in attendance. Thomas Wolosik and Wendy Lien of House Tipster not only filmed the event but enjoyed the company of fellow design aficionados.

With summer in full swing, many of us are taking some much needed time off—but as we all know—the design world never sleeps!  We’ve rounded up some of the summer’s biggest design shows around the world to have on your radar. We’ve also included pertinent Instagram handles and hashtags so you can keep up on the latest trends from the shows!

Interior Lifestyle Tokyo (July 17-19)
In just a few short weeks, an international trade show for consumer goods called Interior Lifestyle Tokyo will take place at Tokyo Big Sight. In past years, this event has welcomed more than 30,000 visitors and more than 800 exhibitors. Inspired by the corner shops found in the UK, this year’s layout mimics the flow of these stores found on street corners. There will be tables and chairs in the center to encourage meetings and conversation among visitors and exhibitors alike. This means everyone will get as much interaction out of their visit as possible.

@interiorlifestyletokyo #interiorlifestyletokyo

Decor + Design Show Melbourne (July 18-21)

Rightfully established as Australia’s top interior design event, Decor + Design Show Melbourne is celebrating its 15th annual show this summer– or winter if you’re in Australia. One of the event’s most famous features is VIVID, Australia’s longest running design competition. Categories include color, furniture design, lighting design, and concept design. In addition to some friendly competition, the design show also allows visitors to walk around the exhibit and hosts seminars for visitors looking for more information.

@decordesignshow #decordesignshow

100% Design South Africa (August 7-11)

100% Design South Africa is a contemporary interior design exhibition at the Gallagher Convention Center in Midrand, South Africa. It is Africa’s largest exhibition of contemporary high-end design and South Africa’s only international design show. This event is your only chance to check out designs from global brands in-person in South Africa. Since it focuses on residential, hospitality, and commercial design, there is something for everyone in all design sectors.

@100percentdesignsa #100percentdesignsa

NY NOW (August 11-14)

If you’re looking for a stateside event, consider NY NOW. Visitors get the chance to see brands launch new products while fellow exhibitors can check out their competition for inspiration. Conveniently located in one of the world’s design capitals, feel inspired by New York City’s creativity while browsing the aisles for on-trend and innovative products. There is even a helpful app to plan out and schedule your visit to ensure you get the most out of your time at the market.

@ny_now #NYNOW

Las Vegas Market (July 28- August 1)

With an emphasis on home furnishings and gifts, Las Vegas Market features over 4,300 brands for visitors to check out. Despite the extensive amount of brands and products, Las Vegas Market prides itself on how easy it is to navigate to avoid feeling overwhelmed. There is also an app for this market that can be found in the app store to make sure you have an enjoyable and informative experience without the stress of scheduling.

@lasvegasmarket #LVMkt

Helsinki Design Week (September 5-9)

Last year’s Helsinki Design Week welcomed 170,000 visitors from around the world to celebrate design and the city’s culture. The events are spread out at various locations around the city giving visitors the opportunity to explore Finland’s capital city while browsing designers’ latest designs. This year, Children’s Design Week will take place at the same time. This means you don’t have to leave your kids at home. Instead, you and your kids can enjoy your respective design events. With over 200 events every year, the festival is perfect for the general public and professionals alike. It is unique for a design event of this size to also be catered to the general public. 

@helsinkidesignweek #helsinkidesignweek #hdw2019

Paris Design Week (September 5-14)

For years, this design experience has created a celebration of design in the heart of Paris. This September, visitors from around the world will come together at the ninth annual Paris Design Week to discover what top designers have been busy creating the past year. A unique feature of this event is how it is complete with debates and installations for visitors who want to elevate their experience that much more.

@parisdesignweek #PDW19 #ParisDesignWeek

London Design Festival (September 14-22)

In 2018, this design festival in historic yet on-trend London was visited by over half a million design enthusiasts to celebrate its city’s creativity. The most crowd-drawing aspect is its annual Landmark Project where the best designers, artists, and architects from around the world join to create something together. Designed by British designer Paul Cocksedge, this year’s Landmark Project is titled Please Be Seated. This must-see large-scale piece features curves for people to sit on while they admire its architectural design.

@l_d_f_official #LDF19

From June 10-12, the 51st edition of NeoCon showcased the future of the commercial design industry. The global platform for leading companies in the sector is held annually at The Mart in Chicago. We headed there last week to check it out and enjoy some time in the Windy City. Product launches from nearly 500 top brands and captivating programming were just the beginning of this year’s immersive NeoCon experience.

Designed by Gensler Chicago and Forward Fruit Branded Environments, a new experiential outdoor area called The NeoCon Plaza spanned the length of The Mart’s South Drive. A hit with attendees, who used the space to connect, relax and recharge, it featured gorgeous views of the river and was a great illustration of how incorporating  outdoor environments into the modern workplace can be effective. This was a theme that was addressed within the NeoCon conference program, with sessions that focused on how designers can utilize the outdoors to work and collaborate while improving health and wellbeing. Leah Bauer, IIDA, ASID, IFMA led the presentation “Outdoor Workplace Evolution” with Assal Yavari, CID,  which explored the power of data in changing design culture. In addition, Todd Heiser, Principal of Gensler Chicago, and Paul Makovsky, editor in chief of Contract Magazine, explored the advantages of “The Outdoor Office” through survey data on the new workspace. They all reinforced the notion of biophilic design being the center of a happier and more productive workforce with fresh outdoor spaces.

Each day of the show included a powerful keynote presentation from influential movers and shakers in the design world.  In the opening presentation “The Familiar and Unusual”, Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch discussed moving away from corporate modernism and instead reflecting a unique narrative for each client’s vision through design. The following day “Stuff Matters: The Material World We Make” conveyed Ilse Crawford’s mission to center her projects around human desires and needs to make people feel right at home. Lastly, Liz Ogbu’s “Do No Harm” keynote spoke on her work to advocate for challenged urban areas through cross-disciplinary and human-centered design research.

Before we headed back to NYC, we wanted to enjoy some time out on the town! One night we opted for a dinner at Beatnik on the River, a Chicago favorite. Known as the “it” riverfront patio, the restaurant drew inspiration from the Beat Generation of the 50s and 60s and gave us breathtaking views of the Chicago River. The international cuisine and boho-chic interior space including a 1913 jewelry shop and Indonesian daybeds gave our team the most intimate and overall worldly experience to wrap up our final days. NeoCon 2019 exceeded our expectations and we are looking forward to coming back next year!

Sofas, chairs, tables, beds and other furnishings returned from exhibitions, fairs, photo shoots, end-of-line.

March 05, 2019 – June 01, 2019
From 10am to 6pm

via Vittorio Veneto 57,
20834 Nova Milanese

Tel. 03 62 49 81

Mail: sales@zanotta.it

A spring classic, The New York Tabletop Show will run from April 2-5. Since 1974, the bi-annual show has evolved into the premier destination for glassware, fine china, flatware and more.  Originally hosted at Forty One Madison, the show at one time featured 23 floors dedicated solely to tabletop accessories and decor. As always, this year’s show debuts new designs that are both contemporary and modern as well as classically inspired.

Attendees flock to the The New York Tabletop Show not only to shop & source a diverse array of products, but also for its special events. This year’s programming focuses on the ever-popular topic of flowers. A special breakfast seminar will be hosted on April 3rd, which will feature floral entrepreneur Calvert Crary. The seminar will offer insider tips on how floral arrangements can be used to boost business for retailers . Crary, who transitioned from an award-winning photographer to a successful florist with three flower shops in New York City, will offer an exclusive detailed presentation based on his own experiences. Learn how to fill your space with the smell of freshly trimmed roses, lavender, eucalyptus, and bay leaf.

Another anticipated guest is Margot Shaw, editor-in-chief of Flower magazine, who will share the story behind her career and sign copies of her book during the breakfast seminar. While working with floral designer Sybil Sylvester, Shaw realized her passion for flowers and recognized a hole in the industry: there were no publications devoted to just flowers. So she decided to start one! Taking the knowledge she learned from her former mentor, she quickly cultivated her own taste and design style and began a quarterly publication about flowers for enthusiasts like herself. As a leading magazine in its category, the demand quickly rose and due to its rising popularity, today, Flower magazine makes bi-monthly publications.

Lastly, what should be a given at any tableware show – the food! Learn from award winning chef Ryan Hardy about the arduous process of handpicking and sourcing his products for Legacy Records, one of his newest restaurants that opened last March in the Hudson Yards neighborhood of New York City!

Don’t miss out on the New York Tabletop Show and get a taste of what this year’s newest tabletop trends are!

Courtesy of Forty One Madison.

DIFFA’s signature event DINING BY DESIGN was held again this month at New York’s Pier 92 and was as bold as ever. DINING BY DESIGN is DIFFA’s annual 5 day showcase that invites designers to transform a space into a spectacular dining environment to raise awareness and grant funds to organizations that provide treatment, direct care services, preventive education programs and advocacy for individuals impacted by HIV/AIDS. With more than 12,000 attendees who work in the field of architecture, interior design, and luxury home retail, the signature event is one of the most anticipated in the season. Out of the many exhibitors, we wanted to spotlight a collaboration we did with Maiarelli Studio.

For the second time, we partnered with Maiarelli Studio to create an installation for DINING BY DESIGN. This year’s theme for the table was empathy: a topic that seems even more relevant in today’s more and more globally connected world. The installation aims to highlight the importance of reading in developing an important life-skill: empathy. In this quickly ever- evolving society, we sometimes overlook the importance of reading as we always set it aside for when we have more “free time” but books are in fact powerful tools that may help us develop the necessary skills to connect and interact with others and successfully navigate our way through this busy world.

The installation featured a table floating atop large stacks of books with eight books covering the topic of AIDS at each of the place settings around the table. From poetry to non-fiction, the books on the table cover topics that bring the reader closer to the issue of AIDS and the lives of those affected by it. Creative Director and Founder of Maiarelli Studio, Giona Maiarelli says, “Books allow us to see the world through the eyes of others and respond with empathy for those different from ourselves. They bring us into the shows of those who may at first seem dissimilar to us, and ultimately draw out our similarities. When information is consumed at lightning speed, and hate spreads faster than truth, we reaffirm the power of books.”

By enlightening our minds and widening our perspectives through the act of reading books, we can become part of a society that is more knowledgeable and more empathetic. According to DIFFA, “Combating misinformation, ignorance, and prejudice is a vital element in the fight against HIV/AIDS and DIFFA is committed to continuing its support for this important work. By combining talent, creative marketing strategies, and a national network, DIFFA has found a way to leverage the resources of the design community to improve the lives of thousands of people impacted by HIV/ AIDS.”

Keep reading and expanding your horizons!

TABLES, CHAIRS AND SOFAS returned from exhibitions, fairs and photo shoots.

March 28 – 31,  2019

Driade Outlet: via Padana Inferiore 12, Fossadello di Caorso (Pc)

A1 exit Piacenza Sud

Tel. +39 0523 818655

Mail: outlet@driade.com

The Architectural Digest Design Show, held from March 21–24 at Piers 92 & 94 in New York City, is a four-day design destination brimming with special events and extraordinary, highly-curated finds from over 400 brands in the luxury residential and hospitality worlds. Organized by sections, including FURNISH, REFRESH, MADE and SHOPS as well as special features including the AD Apartment and DIFFA’s DINING BY DESIGN, it is one of the only global design trade shows that offers designers and consumers alike access to a world where they can source, shop and see the latest the design world has to offer. 

SOURCE:

The Architectural Digest Design Show has always been a place for designers to unearth new and intriguing brands and build up a large repertoire of relationships within the luxury interiors world. The show offers exclusive brand face-time, quality craftsmanship, and customization all at designers’ fingertips. For consumers, it is a small glimpse into the world of interiors—and how designers source the unique, one-of-a-kind objects and furnishings that grace their homes.

With simply a smartphone and the Miele@mobile app, users can activate Miele’s CM7 Countertop Coffee System and start their preferred program brew from anywhere, order more beans and detergents, and check the maintenance status and available software updates all at once (Booth 255).

Miele CM7

Signature Kitchen Suite is launching its integrated column wine refrigerator series, complete with a new True Sommelier TMApp that helps wine collectors manage their personal collections. Powered by Wine Ring’s patented machine learning, this mobile app is the first smart software that learns preferences and makes wine recommendations, including food and wine pairings, based on the wines stored in the user’s cellar (Booth 293).

24-inch Wine Refrigerators by Signature Kitchen Suite

Leading the way in kitchen innovation from large-to-small appliances and all of the in between, Italian designer appliance manufacturer SMEG (Booth 347) will showcase new offerings such as their Linea Wall oven.

Linea Wall Oven by Smeg

For a pop of color in the kitchen, True Residential is launching its undercounter and full-sized refrigeration units in a vibrant Emerald hue (Booth 369).

The True Residential Glass Door “Emerald”

Brizo is unveiling the first-of-its-kind Vettis Concrete, WaterSense-labeled faucet. A single-handle faucet handcrafted by sculptor Christopher Shannon from fiber-reinforced concrete with a titrated infusion of pure charcoal will be available in a limited-edition of 500 (Booth 241).

Vettis Concrete faucet

In FURNISH, KGBL’s signature chic design tableau will include the customizable Lennox Bench this year. Designed for comfort, twin stacked cushions—one in an orange hued velvet and the other in Clementine Orange leather-are belted over walnut legs for one incredibly tailored look (Booth 101).

Lennox Bench

Peter Harrison’s Oahu is a dynamic table composed of square pieces of dyed black Sapele and industrial aluminum brackets that support a 60”-diameter tempered glass top. The most interesting aspect of the design is how it changes as one circles the piece (Booth 436).

Peter Harrison’s Elara

Woven Concepts’ UnTitledCollection, specifically the UnAssuming rug in Chianti, Peach, and Coral, recalls Japanese Shodo calligraphy and is designed by artist and founder of Design Milk, Jaime Derringer (Booth 221).

UnAssuming rug

Eidos Glass presents the new 18″ Aurum Chandelier, a hand blown deco-inspired lighting solution made with 24K Japanese Golden Foil. This chandelier like all products in the AURUM Lighting and Home Décor Collection, reflects the designers ongoing exploration of the reflective interplay between gold, light and glass.

The AURUM Chandelier

NEA Studio‘s main idea behind the Crystallized Chair was to represent an Origami. The facets of this chair catch and reflect the changing daylight like a crystal. The studio worked in collaboration with Ferra Design metal fabricators to optimize the chair’s design for efficient production processes.

Nea’s Studio Crystallized Chair

SHOP:

From custom orders to a cash-and-carry boutique of lighting, décor, gifts, tabletop accessories, objets d’art, and more, the show offers attendees opportunities to purchase the latest in design right from the show. The ever-growing SHOPS section features a wide array of items available for immediate purchase.

The Roseland Sconce from Nebraska-based lighting company Pax Lighting is inspired by the collars or discs that surround candleholders. The solid brass construction, exposed bulb with a dimmer, and the glazed terracotta offers an undeniably elegant aesthetic (M820).

Roseland by Pax Lighting

Franca, a multicultural design studio based in Brooklyn, will be offering a part of their gorgeous collection of bottles, planters, dinnerware and more (S103).

Costa Bottle by Franca

Snowe, a home shop that believes in thoughtful design will offer luxurious dinnerware—including Limoges Porcelain sets—gorgeous, user-friendly glassware, and soft-to-the-touch linens made in  Italy and Portugal (S105).

Snowe Linen Sheets

SAVED will offer throws, pillows, and blankets all handcrafted in Mongolia from fine, sustainably sourced Mongolian Yak Down, cashmere, and camel hair from Brooklyn-based designer and founder, Sean McNanney (S305).

SAVED Pillows

Nate Cotterman’s Aquila Series of lighting is designed as a modular unit that can grow into larger installations featuring multiple fixtures to create one incredible illuminating experience (M702).

Nate Cotterman

SEE:

This year’s show includes inspiring installations, special features, exhibitor events, culinary demonstrations, and more happening every day throughout the show floor. Highlights include:

EXHIBITOR EVENTS

Offering visitors a chance to interact and engage directly with leading designers, artists and brands, theshow is full of in-booth hospitality moments and special events. Designer Alexa Hampton will be on hand at The Shade Store (Booth 801) to celebrate the launch of their collaborative new collection (Thursday,11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m).

Famed British designer and artist David Harber (Booth 404) will host a series of talks throughout the show including Royal Commissions: Heritage Unveiled at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday.

James Briscione, executive chef, two-time Chopped champion, and author of The Flavor Matrix cookbook will be offering live cooking demos on the new Luxury HEARTH pizza oven from GE Monogram (Thursday & Friday, 12:00 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. at Booth 263).

Textile Designer Stevie Howell and Dada Daily will collaborate to host a special tasting of healthy snacks and superfoods (Saturday, 4:00–6:00 p.m. at Booth 137).

THE AD APARTMENT

The now iconic AD Apartment will be transformed by New York-based interior designer Sasha Bikoff to the theme of an “uptown girl living in a downtown world” spirit. Highlights include a host of visionary décor meant to spark every sense. In the kitchen, you’ll find professional-grade home appliances by Gaggenau ,state-of-the-art surfaces from Dekton by Cosentino, and Art Deco-inspired cabinetry by Danish design company Reform. Throughout the apartment, you’ll also see a stellar lineup of products and brands, including Brizo®, Calligaris, Clementine Studio, Dyson, Emtek, Lenox, Livex Lighting, Lumber Liquidators, Mayflower Wallpaper, ShimmerScreen®, Supreme Furniture Services, and Tuft & Needle. The AD Apartment is home to exciting events, including Champagne toasts with Bikoff, AD editors and AD Editor in Chief Amy Astley; baking demos from Gaggenau; a designer book signing with Jeffrey Bilhuber; and a Colavita® Olive Oil Dessert Tasting. Visit addesignshow.com for a complete schedule.

AT HOME WITH AD

An ultra-comfortable lounge located at the back of REFRESH, At Home with AD is a collaboration between The Home Depot and AD editors, inspired by the latest design trends from the Home Decorators Collection. Designed to offer attendees a serene reprieve, the space is also home to Butterfield Market and B Bar for food and beverage offerings. The space will also featurea series of special events for attendees including complimentary coffee (Friday, 10:00–11:00 a.m.); cocktails and mocktails with lifestyle influencers Christina and Robert of New Darlings (Saturday, 3:30–4:30 p.m.); and decadent treats with lifestyle blogger WillTaylor of Bright Bazaar (Sunday, 2:00–3:00 p.m.).

AD PRO

Celebrate the soon-to-be-launched, AD PRO, Architectural Digest’s members-only platform featuring exclusive news, trade tools, services and special events created specifically for design industry professionals. A subscription-based platform, AD PRO’s private members will have unlimited access to daily,real-time content created by AD editors, industry insiders, and next-gen design stars. Dacor, a leading American luxury home appliance brand, will be the founding sponsor and early sign-up is available to AD Design Show attendees. Click here for a complete schedule of events.

General Admission tickets Friday through Sunday are available for $32 online or $45 at the door. VIP Consumer tickets on Thursday are available for $95. Admission is complimentary to the design trade with two forms of business credentials via online pre-registration. To purchase tickets, visit ADDesignShow.com. A portion of the proceeds from all ticket sales benefits Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA). To learn more about DIFFA, visit DIFFA.org.

New Yorkers pay nearly $35 billion annually for electricity and heating fuels, and buildings account for 59% of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. Every year, approximately 100 million square footage of construction is built in New York State and once the construction of a building is complete, it becomes difficult and costly to implement energy and carbon-reducing measures. To advance the design, construction and operation of low-or-zero carbon emitting buildings, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo launched the $30 million “Buildings of Excellence” Competition. The competition, administered by NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research & Development Authority) is part of Governor Cuomo’s goal to transform New York’s entire building stock as part of his nation-leading Green New Deal, a clean energy and jobs agenda that puts New York State on a path to a carbon-free economy. It also supports the State’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.

“The time for addressing climate change is now and today we are doubling down on our commitment to lead the way with a revolutionary path toward carbon-free buildings,” Governor Cuomo said. “The development of low- to zero-carbon buildings will create healthier living spaces and communities for all New Yorkers, while driving down harmful emissions from one of our highest contributing sectors – our building stock – and pushing us forward on our path to carbon neutrality.”

“We have established aggressive clean energy goals in New York State, and this competition will continue our efforts to advance carbon neutrality,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. “This significant investment will support the construction of carbon-free buildings that are affordable for all New Yorkers. The initiative complements the Green New Deal, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combatting climate change for a cleaner and greener environment for future generations.”

The Competition will recognize and offer selected projects with financial incentives that demonstrate cost-effectiveness as well as low-carbon emissions and provide healthy affordable spaces for New Yorkers. The Competition will also demonstrate how low-carbon buildings can be profitable, attractive and affordable and how eventually, advanced building design can be implemented into the New York State Energy Conservation and Construction Code.

Alicia Barton, President and CEO, NYSERDA said, “New York’s transition to a carbon-free economy under Governor Cuomo’s Green New Deal means taking bold steps today that will provide great rewards tomorrow for all New Yorkers. Launching the Buildings of Excellence competition is setting a new bar for buildings throughout the state, and providing the support needed to recognize and advance solutions that will help building owners achieve a low- or net-zero status that delivers environmental and health benefits, reduces energy costs, and provides safe, comfortable spaces for all residents and users.”

The competition will include three rounds in which each round will provide up to $10 million, with up to $1 million per project. The first round is focused on multi-family buildings and applications are being accepted through June 4, 2019. Projects must be located in one of the six electric investor-owned New York State utility company territories. Projects can be for new construction or renewal projects. And the buildings can be mixed use as long as at least 50% of the building is for housing. Projects must use design and construction methods that are easily replicable by other professionals for future projects.

Buildings of Excellence Launch on March 6, 2019 at the Building Energy Exchange in New York City. Courtesy of Philip Kamrass/ New York Power Authority.