President’s Letter: October 2025
On Monday evening, MAS honored architects Annabelle Selldorf and Elizabeth Diller at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Medal (JKO) Celebration. The energy in the room was palpable as our honorees called upon the audience to double down on our love for New York City. The resounding applause was a testament to our shared commitment to preserving New York’s architectural heritage while fostering innovative design for the future.
Annabelle’s and Elizabeth’s inspirational remarks remind us that great cities require constant vigilance and active participation. The challenges facing New York—from the lack of affordable housing to increasingly extreme weather events—demand an approach to urban planning that is creative, collaborative, and solutions-oriented.
Conversations about the city, urban design, preservation, and advocacy continued throughout the evening. This was my first JKO as President of MAS, and I was truly proud that our organization could rally such an eclectic group—from art world visionaries and accomplished architects to land use experts and community leaders—around the belief that our city deserves nothing less than excellence in its built environment.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s JKO Medal Celebration a resounding success. And even if you were unable to attend, I thank you for your friendship, your passion, and your commitment to the future of New York City. Your support directly fuels MAS’s advocacy and educational programs and helps ensure that thoughtful planning and design remain at the heart of our city’s evolution.
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