September 27, 2016
DDC Commissioner Feniosky Peña-Mora Receives 2016 ‘Illustrious Award’ from the Institute for Latino Studies
Commissioner Feniosky Peña-Mora (left) receives a 2016 Illustrious Award on September 24 in Newark, NJ
Contact:
Shavone Williams
Public Information Officer
718-391-1583
Dan Leibel
Junior Public Information Officer
718-391-1251
New York, NY –
Commissioner Feniosky Peña-Mora of the New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) received a 2016 ‘
Illustrious Award’ from the Institute for Latino Studies (ILS) for excellence in the field of engineering in government. The award was presented at a ceremony on September 24 at the Paul Robeson Campus Center of Rutgers University in Newark, NJ. The Illustrious Awards recognize the achievements and contributions of Latinos from various professions in the tri-state area.
“I am grateful for the recognition for positive contributions to New York City’s built environment,” said Commissioner Peña-Mora. “DDC seeks to improve the lives of New Yorkers through sustainable, resilient public buildings and infrastructure. We are committed to using the best practices in architecture and engineering to produce innovative projects for every City neighborhood, and to spread employment and contracting opportunities equitably.”
As the City's primary capital construction project manager, DDC delivers top quality public building and infrastructure projects to New Yorkers, building or renovating many of the civic facilities New Yorkers use every day such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, courthouses, senior centers and more. Since Commissioner Peña-Mora joined the agency in April 2014, the agency has won over 50 awards for excellence in design and construction by organizations including the New York Landmarks Conservancy, Engineering News Record (ENR), the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and the Municipal Art Society of New York (MAS-NY).
Commissioner Peña-Mora has rolled out numerous initiatives, including an intensive outreach and engagement effort to increase the amount of business the agency does with minority and women owned business enterprises (
MWBEs). In the City’s Fiscal Year 2015, the department awarded $242 million in contracts to MWBEs, which accounted for 35% of total DDC contract amount awarded in the year. More than $600 million in MWBE contracts have been awarded by the agency since 2014, helping DDC play a significant role in the City’s efforts to meet MWBE goals.
DDC’s new
STEAM education initiative has increased opportunities for City middle school, high school, and college students, and other DDC in-house events provide New York City students exposure to concepts in architecture, engineering and construction that they wouldn’t otherwise get in a traditional classroom setting. DDC’s commitment to an inclusive learning environment among students aims to develop a pipeline that gets kids interested in design and construction and ultimately leads them to careers in the fields related to public urban design and development.
The Institute for Latino Studies is a nonprofit organization dedicated to quality research and advocacy for a better society. ILS aims to develop a solid understanding of cultural self-identity and people’s socio-economic realities within a multi-cultural society focused on healthy and productive development of its communities. The Illustrious Awards have been presented to Latin-Americans contributing to this goal since 2001.
About the NYC Department of Design and Construction
The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor de Blasio’s lenses of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, new or upgraded roadways, sewers, water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $15 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative, and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to city projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.
Department of Design and Construction311
