MASterworks Awards

Established in 2001, the MASterworks Awards pay tribute to projects completed in the previous year that exemplify excellence in architecture and urban design. From iconic buildings to neighborhood gems, our list of past winners includes the likes of Weeksville Heritage Center, Manhattan District 1/2/5 Garage & Salt Shed, the Fulton Center, McCarren Pool and Bathhouse, the Tenement Museum, the TKTS Booth, El Barrio Bait Station, the High Bridge, and the Gowanus Canal Sponge Park.

The call for nominations for the 2023 MASterworks Design Awards has closed. Email us at events@mas.org with any questions.

All nominated projects must be located in New York City and have been completed in 2022. Projects can be nominated in up to two of the following categories:

  • Best New Building for outstanding architectural design
  • Best Urban Landscape for a new or revitalized open space that contributes to livability and resilience
  • Best Restoration for a project that expertly enhances the original qualities of a significant historic building or structure
  • Best Adaptive Reuse for a project that demonstrates exceptional creativity in adaptive reuse of an existing building or structure
  • Best New Infrastructure for distinctive design in public service projects
  • Best New Urban Amenity for an addition to the built environment that contributes to a more livable city

Every year, MAS convenes an esteemed jury of architects, designers, preservationists, scholars, and critics to select the winners of the MASterworks Awards. Past jury members have included Justin Davidson, Architecture and Classical Music Critic, New York Magazine; Bjarke Ingels, Founding Partner, BIG; Justin Garrett Moore, then-Executive Director, NYC Public Design Commission; Debbie Millman, Host, Design Matters; Benjamin Prosky, Executive Director, AIA New York / Center for Architecture; and Rafael Viñoly, Rafael Viñoly Architects.

The 2023 MASterworks Jury included the following acclaimed individuals:

Wellington Chen, Executive Director, Chinatown Partnership
Wendy Evans Joseph, MAS Board of Directors and Studio Joseph
Signe Nielsen, Founding Principal, Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects (MNLA)
Aniket Shahane, Principal, Office of Architecture (OA) and Senior Critic, Yale University School of Architecture

  • 2022 MASterworks Best New Building: Northeast Bronx YMCA (Marvel). Photo credit: Scott Frances.
    photo 1 of 6
  • 2022 MASterworks Best Urban Landscape: Little Island (Heatherwick Studio, Standard Architects, MNLA). Photo credit: Timothy Schenck.
    photo 2 of 6
  • 2022 MASterworks Best Restoration: Brooklyn Public Library Central Library Master Plan: Phase 1 (Toshiko Mori Architect). Photo credit: Gregg Richards.
    photo 3 of 6
  • 2022 MASterworks Best Adaptive Reuse: Adams Street Library (WORKac). Photo credit: Bruce Damonte.
    photo 4 of 6
  • 2022 MASterworks Best New Infrastructure: Moynihan Train Hall (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill). Photo credit: Dave Burk & Aaron Fedor, courtesy of Empire State Development and SOM.
    photo 5 of 6
  • 2022 MASterworks Best New Urban Amenity: Fountain of the Fairs Mist Garden (Quennell Rothschild & Partners). Photo credit: Barrett Doherty.
    photo 6 of 6

2022 Honorees

Northeast Bronx YMCA – Best New Building

Brooklyn Public Library – Best Restoration

Adams Street Library – Best Adaptive Reuse

Fountain of the Fairs Mist Garden – Best New Urban Amenity

Moynihan Train Hall – Best New Infrastructure

Little Island – Best Urban Landscape

guide leads a tour group and holds a Municipal Art Society of New York sign

Become a member to enjoy free tour tickets, event discounts, and access to members-only programs and content.

Learn about membership
exterior of Lever House in Manhattan
1980

Winning Landmark Status for the Lever House

As Lever House is threatened with demolition, MAS successfully advocates for its designation as a landmark, the first from the mid-century era. Photo: Seth Tisue, Boston, Massachusetts.

View Our Full History