The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today announced nearly $7 million has been awarded to nine projects through the fifth round of the Buildings of Excellence Competition (Competition), which aims to advance best-in-class, energy efficient multifamily buildings in New York. The Competition provides financial awards and recognition for zero emission or carbon-neutral ready buildings that are healthier for residents and their communities, supporting the State's transition to a clean energy economy. In addition to these awards for demonstration projects, NYSERDA also announced that $15 million of new funding is now available under Round Six of the of the Competition.

NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, "The Buildings of Excellence Competition continues to inspire replicable and scalable solutions, tapping into cutting-edge technologies that transform the way we design and construct buildings. NYSERDA applauds the partners awarded today for accelerating the adoption of the latest clean, efficient building practices, and welcomes proposals of future projects that will push the envelope to benefit residents across New York."

Today's announcement was made during an awards ceremony held at the American Institute of Architects New York Chapter (AIA NY) Center for Architecture in New York City. Launched in 2019, NYSERDA's Buildings of Excellence Competition is the only competition of its kind that provides financial incentives and recognition for the design, construction, and operation of zero-emission buildings. With these awards, NYSERDA has awarded a total of 75 state-of-the-art new construction and gut-renovation projects over five rounds of Competition, with 41 located in disadvantaged communities (DACs), as defined by the Climate Justice Working Group (CJWG) and more than two-thirds of these high-performing new construction buildings serve affordable housing markets.

Highlights of today's awarded demonstration projects include:

• Affordable Housing: Seven of the nine buildings to be constructed will serve low- to -moderate-income customers; six of the nine awarded projects will serve disadvantaged communities.
• Zero Emissions/Carbon Neutral Ready: 100% of projects are zero emissions and carbon neutral ready, meaning they are highly efficient with no use of fossil fuel combustion on site for daily operations.
• Passive House Standard: All projects are committed to meeting a Passive House standard, meaning design and construction will be executed to extremely energy efficient standards, while also achieving high levels of comfort, health, and resiliency for the occupants in the building.
• Solar Energy Inclusion: Eight projects incorporate solar generation with one including energy storage.

Round Five awardees include:

Mid-Hudson: $1.2 million, two projects

• 77 William Street: BronxPro Group and Safe Harbors of the Hudson, Curtis + Ginsberg Architects - Newburgh, NY*
• Chester Agricultural Center Farmworker Housing: Chester Agricultural Center, Inc, WXY Architecture + Urban Design, - Chester, NY*

New York City: $4.8 million, six projects

• 280 E 161st St - West Tower: Gilbane Development Company and Institute for Community Living, Aufgang Architects - Bronx, NY*
• 475 State Street: Alloy Development, Alloy Architecture LLP and Thornton Tomasetti - Brooklyn, NY
• Building 10 Bio-based Passive House (3989,3995 Hillman, 4009 Gouverneur Avenue): Amalgamated Housing Cooperative, ZH Architects - Bronx, NY
• Kissena House: Selfhelp Realty Group, Curtis+Ginsberg Architects - Flushing, NY*
• Powerhouse Apartments: Lemle & Wolff Development Co., LLC and HELP Development Corp and True Development New York, LLC, Ettinger Engineering Associates and STAT Architecture - Bronx, NY*
• Seneca West 110th Street: Infinite Horizons, LLC, Urbane Development Group, LTD, Lemor Development Group, LLC, and L+M Development Partners LLC, Curtis + Ginsberg Architects - New York, NY*

Western New York: $1.0 million, one project

• 1707 Hertel Avenue: Forward Development LLC, Line 42 Architecture, PLLC - East Aurora, NY

*Project is a Competition winner located in a DAC.

For a complete list of all Buildings of Excellence Competition awarded projects, please visit NYSERDA's website.

Round Six Funding
Additionally, NYSERDA is now making $15 million available through the next round of the Competition, with project applicants eligible to receive up to $1.5 million in awarded funding an increase from past rounds. This latest round of funding continues to welcome applications for new construction projects that employ high performance envelopes, support converting institutional, office, or retail space to housing, and demonstrate cost compression. The Competition is structured to prioritize funding for projects leveraging technologies that minimizes energy use during peak times and rely on refrigerants with lower environmental impact. Projects employing geothermal heat pump systems for space conditioning will have access to a higher level of funding.

Round Six proposals will be accepted through September 17, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. For more information, please visit NYSERDA's website .

Additionally, the Buildings of Excellence Competition continues to offer an Early Design Support Request for Proposals (RFP), providing up to $150,000 per project in direct funding to Design Partners. This funding aims to encourage early-stage zero emission multifamily building design efforts and aims to build the technical expertise needed for successful project implementation. The RFP is currently open and accepting applications through November 15, 2025, for projects involving zero emissions multifamily buildings. Design teams can apply to become an Early Design Support Partner here .

New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, "New York is committed to creating housing that can reduce our environmental impact - because addressing climate change is not a luxury. The projects being recognized by the Buildings of Excellence show that housing and sustainability go hand-in-glove. NYSERDA's $7 million investment inspires excellence and will help us reach our Housing Plan goals of building 100,000 affordable homes, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes. We are thankful to NYSERDA for their partnership and congratulate all the awardees for their accomplishments."

Senator Kevin Parker, Chair, NY Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee said, "The Buildings of Excellence awards demonstrate how we can lead the nation in building a clean energy future that also delivers real benefits to our communities. By supporting zero-emission, affordable housing especially in disadvantaged areas we're not just cutting carbon emissions; we're improving health outcomes, reducing energy costs, and creating good-paying green jobs for New Yorkers."

American Institute of Architects (AIA) New York Executive Director Jesse Lazar said, "AIA New York is proud to continue our fifth year of partnership with NYSERDA on the Buildings of Excellence program, which plays a critical role in advancing sustainable design across the state. As an organization committed to shaping a more resilient and equitable built environment, we see these award-winning projects as powerful examples for our members and the broader industry of how thoughtful design can help address both the climate crisis and the urgent need for quality housing."

Passive House Accelerator Founder Michael Ingui said, "The NYSERDA Buildings of Excellence winners continue to show us what's possible and what's next in high-performance, carbon-neutral-ready buildings. Their impact reaches far beyond individual projects. By sharing solutions, specifications, and lessons learned, these teams have helped transform how architects, engineers, contractors, owners, and developers approach building design and construction. The Round 5 winners carry this momentum forward with bold ideas, replicable strategies, and inspiring results offering a clear, actionable roadmap to beautiful, carbon-neutral-ready buildings across New York State and beyond."

Paul A. Castrucci Architects Partner Grayson Jordan said, "The Buildings of Excellence Program raises the bar for sustainability in New York State construction. The projects awarded here today (June 17) create a new standard for creativity and ambition in design, while simultaneously providing a roadmap for a zero carbon future."

FAIA, AIA National 2025-2026 President Elect, founding principal of +LAB architect PLLC and Professor, New York City College of Technology (CUNY) Illya Azaroff said, "These projects awarded today through the Buildings of Excellence Competition demonstrate the positive effect we can have on our communities across the state to secure a better future. By advancing resilient, sustainable, regenerative, high-performance designs, we demonstrate that we can be the change we want to see in the world if we work together, collaborate with communities, design professionals and developers alike. Furthermore, these projects embody a framework for design excellence that meets the challenges of climate change and sets new horizons that we must all strive to achieve."

For more than fifty years, NYSERDA has been a trusted and objective resource for New Yorkers, taking on the critical role of energy planning and policy analysis, along with making investments that drive New York toward a more sustainable future. Buildings are one of the most significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions in New York State. Through NYSERDA and utility programs, more than $5.6 billion has been invested to decarbonize buildings and support high-efficiency all-electric heating and cooling technologies.

Funding for this program is through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and $6 billion Clean Energy Fund.

New York State's Climate Agenda

New York State's climate agenda calls for an affordable and just transition to a clean energy economy that creates family-sustaining jobs, promotes economic growth through green investments, and directs a minimum of 35 percent of the benefits to disadvantaged communities. New York is advancing a suite of efforts to achieve an emissions-free economy by 2050, including in the energy, buildings, transportation, and waste sectors.

NYSERDA

Since 1975, NYSERDA has been working to advance New York's energy system and economy. As a public benefit corporation, NYSERDA has served as an objective source for information and technical expertise to drive innovation and investment. NYSERDA professionals have worked for the past 50 years to protect the environment and help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. To learn more about NYSERDA's programs and funding opportunities, visit nyserda.ny.gov or follow us on Twitter , Facebook , YouTube , or Instagram .