Susan Tunick, artist and President of Friends of Terra Cotta, presented the FRIENDS Exterior Restoration Award to the team behind the restoration of the 1000 Park Avenue façade, completed in 2024. The three-year project involved extensive cleaning and the repair of deteriorated terra cotta elements on this Emery Roth-designed building.

In her remarks, Tunick reflected on her long-standing friendship with architect Walter Melvin, which began when she invited him to participate in a short course she had developed on building maintenance for co-op owners. Their collaboration continued with a joint publication in 1986. Tunick also shared before-and-after photos highlighting the restoration's success and detailing the craftsmanship that earned the project the award. Viewers of her recorded remarks were also treated to a surprise cameo by her cat, Maybelle —named after Maybelle Carter, the pioneering American country musician.

Christian Velez accepted the Award on behalf of Walter B. Melvin Architects, West New York Restoration of CT, Inc., Essex Works Ltd., Boston Valley Terra Cotta, 1000 Park Owners Corp., and Brown Harris Stevens Residential Management, LLC.