by Center for Architecture
On Thursday, October 22, over 750 professionals from the architecture, design, engineering, construction, and real estate industries gathered at Chelsea Piers, Pier 60 for Common Bond: The Center for Architecture Gala. Since the 1980s, AIA New York and the Center for Architecture have gathered our community each fall to celebrate design excellence in New York City and recognize its leaders and visionaries.
Common Bond serves as the single largest fundraising initiative for the Center for Architecture, providing critical funding to help the organization and its partner, AIA New York, support our steadfast mission of advancing the value and practice of architecture in service of just and sustainable communities. While offering an unparalleled opportunity for forging professional connections, the event provides critical funding for the Center for Architecture’s exhibitions, programs, scholarships and other activities, including our popular Learning and Engagement programs. This year, through the incredibly generous support of our investors, benefactors, patrons, sponsors, and attendees, we were able to raise over $1.19 million to support our work, including in-classroom residences at New York City public schools at low-income Title I schools, family programs, and workshops for teens.
This year, Common Bond celebrated the people and organizations whose ideas, leadership, and creativity are helping shape the future of architecture, design, and culture in New York City. Each honoree brings a distinct perspective and a remarkable contribution to our shared built environment. Please join us in congratulating: BIG–Bjarke Ingels Group, Sciame Construction, Sally Gilliland, and the Studio Museum in Harlem.
“These honorees remind us that shaping a city is a collective endeavor—one that brings together bold ideas, skilled hands, cultural vision, and a commitment to the public good,” said Jesse Lazar, Assoc. AIA, Executive Director, AIANY and the Center for Architecture. “Tonight, we celebrate what they have accomplished and the possibilities their work opens up for the future.”
“Since the early days, we have always been welcomed and embraced by clients, peers, and collaborators, even when we just arrived. So we want to give a really heartwarming thank you to the community and for your inspiring openness to people, to new ideas, and to new opportunities. Lastly, I want to thank the people on this stage, with whom we have grown from a satellite in Copenhagen to the office that we are today… This collaboration that has not only defined BIG in New York but also our other offices abroad,” said Thomas Christofferson, Partner, BIG–Bjarke Ingels Group, who accepted the award on stage alongside Kai-Uwe Bergmann, FAIA, Partner, and 18 other members of the firm.
“Over the past 50 years, we’ve been lucky to build quite a few exciting and iconic buildings, designed by many of you here tonight. You have changed the built environment. I applaud, and I appreciate your talent, your creativity, and your friendship,” said Frank Sciame, CEO and Chairman of Sciame Construction, who accepted their award alongside President and COO Joseph Mizzi.
“I believe that our collective goal, our common bond, should be to make the best buildings and neighborhoods. so that people can live healthy, productive, and happy lives. We should make our world better through the craft that we know. We can do that by trying our hardest to do what we know is right. and to be open to new solutions and approach our work with humility and humor,” said Sally Gilliland, Principal and COO, The Hudson Companies.
“Betsy and I are here as proxies for all those whose craftsmanship, creativity, and determination form the pillars on which our museum was built… Above all, we honor J. Max Bond, Jr. who designed the vessel that carried our mission for more than 35 years and challenged us to envision an even bigger and bolder destiny,” said Debra White, General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer, the Studio Museum in Harlem, who accepted the award alongside Director of Capital Projects Betsy McClelland.
Additionally, each year at Common Bond, the center for Architecture, awards scholarships to outstanding architecture students chosen by area schools that have in turn been selected by our honorees. The scholarships offer critical support to our industry’s brightest students while they are still studying, seeking to help offset the growing financial burden placed on graduates. This year, in honor of the late Marvin Mass, the Mass Family funded scholarships for Christian Aguilar, Michaela Han, and Nora Kelly.
We’re deeply grateful to our investors, benefactors, patrons, sponsors, attendees, and everyone who helped bring this special evening to life!