ENR New York’s 2016 Best Projects awards recognize a collection of diverse work in New York state and New Jersey that relied upon innovative techniques and execution strategies, and that contributed to sustainability and their communities. Judges named 22 projects for the top award in 17 categories, also recognizing five projects for awards of merit.

The panel of judges considered a project’s ability to overcome challenges; attention to safety; level of innovation and contribution to the community or to the industry; emphasis on construction quality; and attention to function and aesthetic quality of design.

ENR New York’s top award—the Project of the Year—ultimately went to 7 Bryant Park. The innovative office tower, also honored as the Best Project in the office/retail/mixed-use category, was recognized for the project team’s ability to create a beautiful and efficient building in a smaller but choice Manhattan space.

Judges for the 2016 competition included: Michael Casey, associate at Woods Bagot; Don Mongitore, partner emeritus at Jaros Baum & Bolles; Derick Hallahan, vice president at HNTB Corp.; Gerard J. Carty, executive director emeritus of The Moles; John Rapaport, vice president of Component Assembly Inc.; Martin Hirko, senior director/QSSE business partner worldwide at Faithful + Gould; Jan Grimsland, vice president of risk management and corporate safety at CNY Group; and William Siegel, managing director of McMahon|Siegel Group. Judges with prior connection to any particular project under consideration for an award recused themselves from evaluating that submission.