By Joshua Burd
Urban Land Institute Northern New Jersey has unveiled the winners of its 2026 Excellence Awards, setting the stage for an event that will showcase a host of top companies, professionals and projects in development and commercial real estate.
Slated for Thursday, April 16, the program is likely to draw a packed crowd from across the private, public and nonprofit sectors to the Westmount Country Club in Woodland Park. They’ll be on hand to celebrate five individual honorees and 13 projects, including a Project of the Year that for the first time will be revealed live during the ceremony.
The honorees include:
Individual awards
- Impact Awards-UrbanPlan: Dan Grant, executive director, ENV, and Michael Mastruzzo, partner, real estate advisory, Sax Advisory Group
- Rising Star: Alexa McNeil
- Women’s Leadership Award: Courtney Mulligan, senior vice president for marketing and communications, Russo Development
- Government Service Award: East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Thomas Didio Sr., senior managing director, capital markets, JLL
Project awards
- New Jersey Project of the Year – Semifinalists
- Bisby
- Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center
- The Park
- Small Deal of the Year: Freshpet, Inc.
- Entertainment: NJPAC Chambers Plaza
- Industrial: Crow Holdings at Carteret
- Retail: Glenwood Green
- Health Care / Medical: Valley Hospital, Paramus
- Mixed-use: Monmouth Square
- Public / Private Partnerships: Avalon Princeton at Harrison
- Multifamily Trailblazer: Russo Development
- Multifamily – Best Amenity Space: Canterly Place
- Suburban Development Project: 500 Parq
- Affordable Housing: Southside View
- Resiliency and Sustainable Development / Net Zero: The Pearl at Station Bay
“Each of this year’s honorees reflects the leadership, creativity and collaboration that continue to elevate New Jersey’s real estate industry,” said Mara Winokur, executive director of Urban Land Institute Northern New Jersey. “Together, these projects and individuals demonstrate how thoughtful development can strengthen communities, advance sustainability and deliver lasting impact.”
This year’s ULI Northern New Jersey Excellence Awards will begin at 5:30 p.m. and includes networking, dinner and the formal awards presentation. Registration is now open, with early pricing available through Feb. 21 and additional details available here.
Sponsorship and table opportunities are also available. Interested parties may contact Iskra Marinova at iskra.marinova@uli.org for more information.
