HUD SECRETARY CUOMO AND AIA ANNOUNCE AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DESIGN

View Description of Housing and Community Design Awards

WASHINGTON - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo and the American Institute of Architects today announced the five winners of the Housing and Community Design awards for their innovative, affordable and accessible building designs.

The awards were presented in three categories to the following recipients:

"These awards recognize that housing is more than just bricks and mortar," said HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo. "Buildings are part of a dynamic community with a wide range of needs. These winners are leaders in creating housing opportunities for all Americans."

The Alan J. Housing Accessibility Award winner was selected for demonstrating excellence in design and construction of affordable housing incorporating features to make housing accessible by people with disabilities. The award is named in remembrance of Alan J. Rothman, HUD's late senior policy analyst on housing disability issues.

The Community Building by Design Award winners were selected for successfully helping to revitalize and enhance a community's physical fabric. Other criteria include a project's ability to incorporate meaningful community involvement in planning; reinforcing and building social and human capital; and building or capitalizing on existing community assets to reclaim and repair a blighted area.

The Mixed Use/ Mixed Income Development Award winners successfully demonstrated the revitalizing potential of mixed use and mixed income housing developments by combining residential land use with retail centers, community centers, public facilities or other non-residential use. Other criteria include: promoting usage by people of diverse racial and economic backgrounds; providing compact, pedestrian friendly neighborhoods; and creating streets and public spaces as shared-use spaces conducive for social interaction.

Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research Susan Wachter presented the awards in Philadelphia at the annual American Institute of Architects National conference.