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(QUEENS, NY) August 31, 2026—Today, the Queens Chamber of Commerce announced the exceptional building projects that will be honored at its 2026 Centennial Building Awards Gala, taking place October 15 at The TWA Hotel at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The event will recognize excellence in the design, construction and sustainability of projects across Queens. The Queens Chamber has hosted its prestigious Building Awards since 1926, recognizing the projects and professionals that have helped shape the borough’s built environment. This year, as the awards mark their 100th anniversary, the Chamber will celebrate both that century-long legacy and the architects, builders, developers and other industry leaders behind the projects shaping Queens today. As part of this year’s centennial celebration, the Chamber will also recognize the Paul A. Vallone Queens Animal Care Center, Queens’ first full-service animal shelter, named in honor of the late Council Member and longtime advocate for animal welfare. “For 100 years, the Queens Chamber’s Building Awards have celebrated the people and projects that are literally building the future of our borough,” said Tom Grech, President and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “Reaching this centennial is an incredible milestone and an opportunity to recognize generations of architects, builders, developers and other professionals whose vision and investment have helped shape Queens into the dynamic place it is today. We’re proud to continue that tradition by honoring this year’s outstanding projects and the people bringing them to life.” If you are interested in purchasing tickets or would like to learn about sponsorship opportunities, you can find out more on the Queens Chamber of Commerce’s website or email Joanne Persad at [email protected]. The winning building projects being recognized in 2026 are: NEW CONSTRUCTION Mixed Use (Residential/Commercial/Industrial) (Southeast Queens) Hillside Tower Architect: J Frankl Architects Builder: Heartfelt Townhouse Builders Mixed Use (Residential/Commercial/Industrial) (Western Queens) Vernon Central Architect: Gerald J. Caliendo Architects Builder: Federici Builders Corp. Mixed Use (Residential/Commercial/Industrial) (Western Queens) Link Apartments QPN Architect: Handel Architects LLP Builder: Consigli Construction Co., Inc. Residential (Multi-Family) Roma Condominium Architect: Gerald J. Caliendo Architects Builder: Parksite Construction Corp. Schools & Colleges (Western Queens) Forte Preparatory Academy Charter High School Architect: SBJ Group Architects Builder: Apex Development Group Schools & Colleges (Eastern Queens) St. Vincent Health Sciences Center at St. John’s University Architect: CannonDesign Builder: Shawmut Design & Construction NEW CONSTRUCTION / SUSTAINABLE BUILDING Grace’s Place Architect: Paul A. Castrucci Architects Builder: Mega Contracting Group REHABILITATION, ALTERATION OR ADDITION Commercial (Southeast Queens) John F. Kennedy Airport- Terminal 5 (Fraport USA / JetBlue) Architect: Corgan Builder: CDS-Mestel Construction Group Commercial (Western Queens) Maspeth Federal Savings 31-42 Steinway Street Astoria, NY 11103 Architect: MJM+A Architects Builder: H.M. Hughes Vincent Massina Commercial (Western Queens) Vibe Fitness Architect: Gerald J. Caliendo Architects Builder: Vibe Fitness with Showcase Designs Health Care Related Facilities Northwell Cancer Institute Queens Radiation Center Architect: SBLM Architects, PC/Bladykas Engineering/Xu Consulting Engineering Builder: ADI Contracting, LLC Residential (multi-family) Baisley Pond Park Residence Architect: Aufgang Architects Builder: SD Builders and Construction LLC Schools & Colleges (Western Queens) PS993Q at Long Island City High School (Q452) Architect: Velocity Architecture & Engineering Group, D.P.C. / A Company of BRAVO Group Builder: Empire Control Abatement Inc. Schools & Colleges (Northeast Queens) Bayside High School (405Q) – Music/ Computer Room Conversion Architect: Velocity Architecture & Engineering Group, D.P.C. / A Company of BRAVO Group Builder: LSS Contracting LLC About the Queens Chamber of Commerce: The Queens Chamber of Commerce is the oldest and largest business association in Queens, representing more than 1,400 businesses and more than 150,000 Queens-based employees. Its mission is to foster connections, educate for success, develop/implement programs and advocate for members’ interests. www.queenschamber.org. ###
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 Credit: Anat Gerstein, Inc. Owner ChangQi Li (L) and George Hadjiconstantinou from Chamber (R) QUEENS, NY (August 19, 2026) — On August 19, the Queens Chamber of Commerce—the borough’s oldest and largest business association—announced Nippon Cha as the winner of its Queens’ Best Sushi Competition. The competition, which launched on July 20, invited locals to nominate and vote for their favorite establishments creating exceptional nigiri, maki, uramaki, sashimi, and other delicious creations. Nippon Cha, located in Bayside, is known for Japanese Tea Sushi featuring Tochucha, a caffeine-free tea from the Seto Inland region of Japan.
“Congratulations to ChangQi Li and the entire team at Nippon Cha on being crowned Queens’ Best Sushi,” said Tom Grech, President and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “Queens is home to some of the best and most diverse food in the world, and this competition gave New Yorkers another reason to discover the incredible businesses that make our borough such a special place to eat. We’re proud to celebrate Nippon Cha, and we thank all of the restaurants and voters who made this year’s competition such a success.” “We are incredibly honored to be named Queens’ Best Sushi, and we’re grateful to everyone who voted for Nippon Cha and supported us throughout the competition,” said ChangQi Li, owner of Nippon Cha. “This recognition means so much to our entire team, who put great care and passion into everything we serve. Queens has an amazing food community, and we’re proud to be part of it. We look forward to welcoming even more of our neighbors to Nippon Cha and sharing what we love with them.” Elected officials representing the area weighed in on the win. "With every kind of cuisine imaginable here in The World's Borough, there is no denying that Queens is the ultimate destination for any kind of food you could possibly want. That's exactly the case when it comes to the kind of authentic, high-quality sushi that you can only find in our borough," said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. "Nippon Cha in Bayside is the definition of top-notch sushi and is more than deserving of the title of Best in Queens. Congratulations to Nippon Cha's hard-working employees for earning that accolade and thank you to the Queens Chamber of Commerce for uplifting our local restaurants across Queens." “Congratulations to Nippon Cha on being named the winner of the Queens Chamber of Commerce’s Best Sushi Restaurant award! Located right here at 39-34 Bell Boulevard in Bayside, Nippon Cha is a wonderful example of the outstanding restaurants that make District 19 such a special place,” said Council Member Vickie Paladino. “We are proud to have some of the best dining destinations in Queens right here in our community. This recognition is truly well deserved!” The top three businesses selected by the public were:
In addition to earning the title of Queens’ Best Sushi, Nippon Cha received a plaque and a complimentary year of membership to the Queens Chamber of Commerce. The second- and third-place winners also received certificates. This is the 15th “Best of Queens” food and beverage competition. Prior contests settled debates over the borough’s best pizza, burgers, halal, empanadas, barbecue, tacos, frozen desserts, bagels, pad thai, tavern, bakery, deli, soup, and craft beer. QUEENS, NY (August 3, 2026) - The Queens Chamber of Commerce, the oldest and largest business association in the borough, is now accepting votes for its Queens’ Best Sushi Competition. Members of the public are encouraged to vote from among 16 nominated establishments creating exceptional nigiri, maki, uramaki, sashimi, and other delicious creations at https://bit.ly/QueensBestSushiVote. Voting will end on Wednesday, August 12.
"Whether you're loyal to classic flavors or love specialty rolls, Queens has a sushi spot for every palate," said Tom Grech, President and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. "This competition is a fun way to celebrate the entrepreneurs and chefs who make our borough one of the country's greatest dining destinations. Get out, try a few nominees, and make your voice heard by voting for your favorite." Nominations were collected over the course of several weeks and include the following businesses:
This is the 15th “Best of Queens” food competition. Prior contests settled debates over the borough’s best pizza, burgers, halal, empanadas, barbecue, tacos, frozen desserts, bagels, pad thai, tavern, bakery, deli, soup, and craft beer. |
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August 2026
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