On May 19, ULI Atlanta hosted its 26th Annual Award for Excellence program recognizing 12 outstanding real estate development projects that exemplify ULI’s mission to shape the future of cities, while also amplifying ULI’s three new mission commitments.

All 12 project finalists were evaluated by a jury of ULI members with a diverse range of expertise and broad perspectives. The jury considered how a development demonstrated leadership, innovation, market success, sustainability, resilience, and meets the current and future needs of its surrounding community. It was through that criteria and the lens of ULI’s mission commitments that winners of the Awards for Excellence showed a commitment to positively shaping the Atlanta region. While there were only five Award categories, there were actually six winners. The nomination and jury process uncovered two projects whose achievements stood alone in their specific and unique alignment with ULI’s core mission priorities.

The first, Rodney Cook Park demonstrated a community focused public realm development characterized by equity and parks, open space, and equitable development. While the second project, ASHRAE Net Zero Energy Headquarters exemplified ULI’s commitment to addressing the built environment’s role in reaching net zero. Both of these projects were Awarded the ULI Mission Advancement Award.

The other Award Winners by category:

• Excellence in Small Scale Development Winner: 395 James P. Brawley Avenue
• Excellence in Civic and Institutional Development Winner: Atlanta Mission’s Restoration House
• Excellence in Adaptive Reuse and Repositioning Winner: Colony Square
• Excellence in Commercial Mixed Use Development: CODA Tech Square

In addition, three individuals were honored for their service and commitment to ensuring not only our city, but also our region is a better place to live for all its residents. Noel Khalil was posthumously awarded the Frank Carter Community Achievement Award and Bill Bolling was awarded the Dan and Tally Sweat Community Leadership Award.

Sarah Kirsch was awarded the Leadership Appreciation Award for her years of commitment to advancing ULI’s global mission – and her impact in shaping the future of the built environment here in Atlanta.