NYU Wagner Recipient of LBD Magazine's Outstanding Project Award
Published November 12, 2025
The renovation of 105 East 17th Street, a building originally designed by SOM with a legacy designation in Manhattan’s Union Square, has been recognized with the Outstanding Project Award for Learning by Design magazine’s Fall 2025 Architecture and Interior Design Awards.
Submitted under the College University | Adaptive Reuse | Entire Building category, the renovation thoughtfully balances preservation and innovation through design solutions that honor the building’s modernist heritage while transforming it into a dynamic, sustainable environment that meets the evolving needs of public service education.
Design for Identity, Transparency & Community Engagement
For the first time in its history, NYU Wagner has a building that truly embodies its mission and identity. The renovation of 105 East 17th Street provided an opportunity to translate the school’s values of transparency, collaboration and community impact into physical form.
Emphasizing openness, light and connectivity, the design creates an environment where learning and public service intersect. The reimagined spaces inspire both focused scholarship and shared purpose, supporting NYU Wagner’s vision of a transparent, engaged and forward-looking academic community.
Before & After Images
Jury Comments
“The compact layout maximizes space without
feeling crowded, while providing social areas
that foster networking which is crucial for
Public Service students.”
”Mid-century colors brighten the spaces, while natural light offsets areas in building with lower ceilings.”
”NYU Wagner gains a dedicated home that
preserves its mid-century modern character
while meeting contemporary academic needs.”
Learn more about the project:
https://www.nkarchitects.com/nyu-wagner-graduate-school-of-public-service