Circular Wins 2024 AIANY Excelsior Award

We are proud and honored to announce that Circular's Corona 3K Center project has been selected as a recipient of the 2024 AIA New York State Excelsior Award for public projects!  

Jury Chair Paul McDonnell, AIA, said of the recipients of the award:

"Our deliberations showcased the remarkable dedication and ingenuity of architects across diverse communities throughout New York State, emphasizing the vital role of design in enriching societal well-being. Each project, whether grand or modest in scale, stood out for its profound impact and unwavering commitment to serving its community. In recognizing nine exceptional projects and teams, our aim was to honor the profound dedication and civic spirit exhibited by these architects and design professionals."

The Corona 3K Center was developed on a rapid timetable under the New York City School Construction Authority’s innovative 3K Capacity program, where existing or under construction buildings are re-purposed for use as schools.  

Working in close collaboration with the landlord, Circular quickly modified the original design for existing and spec retail buildings to incorporate updated facade, core and interior layouts to meet stringent SCA design and construction standards. Our design approach emphasized upgrades to building efficiency, targeting Passive House criteria.  

Recognition from AIA NYS for the Excelsior Awards showcases what is possible for publicly funded projects in New York City in terms of delivering design excellence through sustainable, high performance buildings to best meet the needs of the community.