2025 ANNUAL AWARDS
On April 17, FRIENDS of the Upper East Side hosted our 2025 Annual Awards and Ceremony—a special evening honoring outstanding achievements in preservation, architecture, and advocacy in our neighborhood. This ceremony is traditionally held as a one-night-only experience and is not recorded. However, this year we made an exception to document the powerful and inspiring remarks delivered that evening, allowing us to share them with a wider audience.
Join FRIENDS today and be part of next year’s celebration in person! Membership gives you exclusive access to events like this and a deeper connection to the incredible restoration and advocacy work happening right here on the Upper East Side.
Watch the highlights below, with a message from FRIENDS Board President Franny Eberhart followed by a stirring and timely address from urban planner George M. Janes, as well as insightful remarks from Ronda Wist and Janet Ross.
Relive the Highlights: FRIENDS Annual Awards Ceremony
Urban planner George M. Janes received the Ralph C. Menapace Award for his contributions to our advocacy work. FRIENDS rarely bestows the Menapace Award, named after Ralph Menapace, a pivotal figure in New York City preservation. In his acceptance speech, Janes underscored the critical need for ongoing advocacy and issued a call to action for continued engagement in advancing FRIENDS' mission and goals.
FRIENDS Board member Ronda Wist presented the FRIENDS Institutional Restoration Award to The National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of New York (NSCDNY) for the restoration of their headquarters. Drawing inspiration from a musical and a nod to Upper East Side culture, Wist highlighted the exceptional nature of the National Society of Colonial Dames and the architectural significance of their New York headquarters, designed in 1929 by Richard Henry Dana Jr. in the Colonial Revival style. Wist highlighted the recent two-year restoration of the building with specific examples of the meticulous work, such as the replacement of corroded steel nails with wooden dowels and the innovative approach to the slate roof. President Marguerite Morrison accepted the Award on behalf of NSCDNY, Li/Saltzman Architects, Gilsanz Murray Steficek Engineers, and Skyline Restoration.
Janet Ross presented the Publication Award to the authors of Rosario Candela and the New York Apartment 1927–1937 . This important book explores a key period in New York City's architectural past, celebrating Candela's lasting influence on luxury apartment design during the late 1920s and early 1930s. Ross praised the book as both visually stunning and intellectually rich, commenting, "It’s a lovely book to look at and delightful to hold." Beyond its beauty, Ross noted that the volume is filled with substantial information about Rosario Candela's genius. She also highlighted the value of the accompanying essays, which provide essential insights into the social and economic conditions of the era, deepening the reader's appreciation for these iconic New York residences. Lucinda May of Peter Pennoyer Architects accepted the award on behalf of authors David Netto, Paul Goldberger, and Peter Pennoyer.