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Recognition

RECOGNITION 

Our award-winning projects in the United States and elsewhere receive acclaim for the skill with which they redefine their contexts at multiple scales, to enrich a project’s productive impact on its surroundings with innovative and technically robust design solutions. 

AWARDS

American Architecture Award 
Chicago Athenaeum 2022
West Water View Terrace
Honorable Mention in Architectural Design
Architecture Masterprize 2021 
Re-Activating Terminal Ironworks 
Design of the Year and People’s Choice 
American Institute of Architects Brooklyn & Queens 2017
Elmhurst Library 

more awards

  • The Architects News Paper Best of Design for Civic Educational Building Award, Elmhurst Library, 2017

  • American Architects Building of the Week, Elmhurst Library, 2017
  • The Architecture Center Building of the Day, Elmhurst Library, 2017
  • Brooklyn Queens AIA Design Awards: BQDA Design of the Year, BQDA Best of Queens, Elmhurst Library, 2017
  • American Architecture Prize: Merit Award, Elmhurst Library, 2017
  • Center for Active Design Excellence Honor Award, Elmhurst Library, 2017
  • Penthouse Terrace, 2016
  • Architizer A+ Special Mention Award, Elmhurst Library, 2015
  • United States Green Building Council LEED Silver Certification, Elmhurst Library, 2015
  • Movement on Main International Design Competition Special Recognition Award, 2014
  • International Landscape Bennial-Rosa Barba Prize Finalist, Queens Plaza, 2014
  • Architizer Special Mention Award, Queens Plaza, 2013
  • AIA/Boston Society of Architects Urban Design/Transformation Award, Queens Plaza, 2012
  • Staten Island Chamber of Commerce Excellence Award for Exterior and Green Building, Staten Island Children’s Museum, 2012
  • NYC Design + Construction Excellence Program High Performance Pilot Project, Staten Island Children’s Museum, 2009
  • NYC Design Awards Public Design Commission Award for Allan McCollum’s Shapes Project, Elmhurst Library, 2009
  • AIA New York City Chapter Merit Award, Queens Plaza, 2008
  • AIA New York State Award, Duane Street Live Work Loft, 2008
  • Building Brooklyn Awards, Bergen School Library, 2008
  • Best Private Plots Award, Duane Street Loft Garden, 2008
  • Queens Chamber for Commerce Awards, Whitestone Library Learning Garden, 2007
  • Small Firms NYC Design + Construction Excellence Program, Cohort 2, 2006-09
  • Small Firms NYC Design + Construction Excellence Program, Cohort 1, 2004-06
  • Toledo ArtNET Gateway Competition First Prize, 2006
  • Design Share/Excellence in Education Awards, PS 1/Bergen School (Robin Hood) Library, 2005
  • Friends of the High Line Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Honorable Mention Award, High Line Sublime, 2004
  • Environmental Design Research Association Honor Award, Outdoor Classrooms, 2003
  • Wood Design & Building Association, United States and Canada, Outdoor Classrooms, 2003
  • American Institute of Architects Staten Island Honor Award, Eib’s Pond Park Thresholds, 2003
  • American Institute of Architects Staten Island Honor Award, Eib’s Pond Park, 2002
  • New York State Council on the Arts Independent Projects Grant, Eib’s Pond Park Thresholds, 2002
  • American Society of Landscape Architects, Professional Awards; Merit Award for Excellence in Landscape Architecture, Outdoor Classrooms, 2002
  • American Society of Landscape Architects Merit Award for Excellence in Communications, Map-Guide of Eib’s Pond Park, 2002
  • Fox Hill Community Development District Award of Excellence, Outdoor Classroom at Eib’s Pond Park, 2002
  • National Art & Design Competition for Street Trees, First Prize, Street Tree Protection, 2002

EXHIBITIONS

We Stand in a Crisis with Water 
Ahmedabad Textile Mills Association (ATMA) 
Ahmedabad, India 2023 
Mapping Community 
Center for Architecture 
New York, NY 2019 
Erasumus Effect: Italian Architects Abroad 
National Museum of 21st Century Art (MAXXI) 
Rome, Italy 2013 

more exhibitions

  • Canadian Center for Architecture Exhibition: Imperfect Health, Elmhurst Library, 2011

  • The Center for Architecture Selected Entries, Urban Shed Competition, 2010
  • The Center for Architecture; New York Now!, Elmhurst Library and Queens Plaza, 2008
  • The Architectural League; New New York: Fast Forward, 2007, Elmhurst Library, Staten Island Children’s Museum, 2007
  • Van Alen Institute Exhibition; The Good Life, Eib’s Pond Park Outdoor Classroom, 2006
  • University of Virginia, Eib’s Pond Park Thresholds, 2004
  • Vanderbilt Hall, Grand Central Station; Highline Design Competition Selected Entries, 2003
  • University of Pennsylvania Women in Design Exhibition, Eib’s Pond Thresholds, 2003
  • Vision and ethics in city building, Salt Lake City; An international Exhibition of Significant Practices Olympic Winter Games, 2002
  • Harvard University Graduate School of Design “Urban Design Strategies for Hell’s Kitchen”, 1999
  • Graham Foundation, Chicago Group Exhibition: Landscape Urbanism, 1997
  • Municipal Art Society; Beyond the Box, Design Issues of Big Box Retail on Industrially Zoned Sites in NYC, 1995

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESS

The Architect’s Newspaper 
“U.S. Pavilion organizers announce 52 finalists for 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia”
Daniel Jonas Roche, 2025
The Architect’s Newspaper
“Marpillero Pollak Architects masterfully designs new library in Elmhurst, Queens,”
William Menking, 2017
New York Behind Closed Doors 
“Head over Heels,”
P. Devlin, A. Schlecter, Gibbs Smith, 2017

more publications

  • Architectural Record, “‘PORCH’ Announced as U.S. Pavilion Exhibition at 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale,” 2025 
  • Walkable Sustainable Connected Communities, AIA Queens, 2024
  • House Cat, Paul Barbera, Thames & Hudson, 2023 
  • The New York Times Architecture Review, “A Glowing Shrine to the Printed World,” James S. Russell, 2021
  • NYC Design for Equity, Elmhurst is one of two library Case Studies, 2018
  • Design and Construction Excellence 2.0: Guiding Principles, NYCDDC, 2016
  • Wild by Design, Margie Ruddick, Island Press (Queens Plaza), 2016
  • Under the Elevated: Reclaiming Space, Connecting Communities, Design Trust (Queens Plaza), 2015
  • By the City For the City, Institute for Urban Design Projects, 2015
  • Fit City 10_Promoting Physical Activity through Design, “Urban Schoolyards: The Next Great Public Space”, 2015
  • The New York Times, “A Major Renovation on the Doorstep of Queens,” Terry Pristin, 2014
  • Elle Decor, :Downtown Downstairs: Duane Street Live/Work Loft:, Rosaria Zucconi, Francesca Benedette, 2014
  • Lotus International, “Queens Plaza Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Project”, 2014
  • The Science of Play, Susan G. Solomon, Univ Press of New England (Movement on Main, Staten Island Children’s Museum), 2014
  • The Wall Street Journal, “Lavish Gardens Sprout Up on Luxury Penthouse Roofs, (West Village Terrace): Amy Gamerman, 2014
  • a + t_Independent Magazine of Architecture and Technology, “Reclaim Reuse Recycle,” Javier Arpa (Queens Plaza), 2013
  • Crains Detroit, “Innovative design at the intersection of complete streets and green infrastructure,” Mark Hieber (Queens Plaza), 2013
  • Civil Engineering Journal, Staten Island Children’s Museum, 2013
  • Architecture Week People and Places, “Renewable Energies at Staten Island Children’s Museum”, 2012
  • Staten Island Live, ” At Staten Island Children’s Museum, it’s Everybody Under the Big Green Tent,” Kiawana Rich, 2012
  • Inhabitat, “Children’s Museum Gets a Striking New Solar-Power Shade Structure,” Bridgette Meinhold, 2012
  • Staten Island Advance, “Building Awards Honor Excellence in Design and Construction”, 2012
  • World Architects, “Staten Island Children’s Museum Roof and Tents”, 2012
  • Interior Design Magazine, “Green and Greener Staten Island Children’s Museum,: Craig Kellogg, 2012
  • Green Design and Building Magazine, “Staten Island Children’s Museum,” Julie Schaeffer, 2012
  • The Wall Street Journal, “In Queens, An Artistic Alteration,” Ralph Gardner, 2012
  • NYC High Performance Landscape Guidelines, “Streetscape Case Study: Queens Plaza”, Design Trust for Public Space, 2012
  • The Architects Newspaper, “High Visibility Multimedia at Queens Plaza?” Tyler Silvestro, 2012
  • New York Rooftop Gardens, “West Village Penthouse Garden,” Charles de Vaivre, teNeues, 2011
  • The Power of Pro Bono: 40 Stories About Design for the Public Good, “Outdoor Classroom”, 2010
  • The New York City Active Design Guidelines (Elmhurst Library, Eibs Pond Park Outdoor Classroom), 2010
  • The Library Book, (PS1 Library), Anooradha Iyer Siddiqi, Princeton Architectural Press, 2010
  • Un-volumetric Architecture, Aldo Aymonino (Outdoor Classrooms), Skira, 2010
  • Fresh Kills Park Blog, “Thoughts on Green Infrastructure: Queens Plaza Construction has Begun”, 2009
  • Urban Omnibus, “Queens Plaza: Infrastructure Reframed,” Cassim Shepard, 2009
  • Dictionary of Today’s Landscape Designers, (Linda Pollak), Skira, 2009
  • Urban Omnibus, “Turning Lemons into Learning Gardens”, Varick Shute, 2009
  • New York Times, “The Doors are Open,” Ariel Kaminer, (TriBeCa Live Work Loft), 2009
  • The Architect’s Newspaper; “Water Works,” Jeff Byles (New Stapleton Waterfront Park), 2008
  • The Wall Street Journal, “Library Branches in Full Flower,” (Stone Avenue Learning  Garden), Ada Louise Huxtable, 2008
  • Extensions, “Live Work Loft,” Adam Mornement, Laurence King Publisher, 2007
  • Contemporary World Interiors, Susan Yelavich (TriBeCa Live Work Loft, PS1/Bergen School Library), Phaidon, 2007
  • The New York Times Magazine, “The Innovators,” (TriBeCa Live Work Loft), 2007
  • Integral Urbanism, “Petrosino Park,” Nan Ellin, 2006
  • Creative Garden Lighting, Michelle Osborne, (TriBeCa Live Work Loft), 2005
  • Architectural Record, Robin Hood Foundation Library Initiative, Jane Kolleny, 2005
  • Contract Magazine, “Reading Room,” Katie Weeks (PS1/Bergen School Library), 2004
  • Architectural Design Magazine,” Home Front: New Developments in Housing,” Jayne Merkel, 2003
  • Staten Island Advance, “National Recognition for Outdoor Classroom,” Karen O’Shea, 2003
  • Architectural Record, “Duane Street Live/Work Loft,” Clifford Pearson, 2003
  • The New York Times, “Coaxing a Staten Island Walden Back to Idyllic Splendor,” Mac Griswold, 2003
  • Dictionary of Today’s Landscape Designers, Pierluigi Nicolin, Skira, 2003
  • Places, a Forum of Environmental Design, “Outdoor Classrooms,” Chris Sensenig, Vol. 16, #1, 2003
  • Wood Design Awards: A Program of Architectural Excellence, Don Griffith (Eibs Pond Park and Roy Wilkins Outdoor Classrooms), 2003
  • Landscape Architecture Magazine, ASLA Awards (Eibs Pond Park Outdoor Classroom), 2003
  • Design Strategies for Hell’s Kitchen, Richard Plunz, David Smiley et al eds, 2002
  • Staten Island Advance, “Eibs Pond Park Thresholds,” Karen O’Shea, 2002
  • Oculus, Vol. 64, “Jacob Riis House Youth & Community Center,” Jayne Merkel, 2001
  • Oculus, Vol. 64, “Marked Landscapes: Eibs Pond Park,” Jayne Merkel, 2001
  • On the Nature of Things: Landscape Practices in North America, “Marpillero Pollak Architects’ Urban Morphology,” Birkhauser, Gavin Keeney, 2000
  • Oculus, Vol. 63, “Eibs Pond Park Pavilion,” Jayne Merkel, 2000
  • Harvard Design Magazine, “Eib’s Pond Park,” 2000
  • Competitions Journal, “National Art and Design Street Tree Competition,” Gavin Keeney, 1999
  • Harvard Architecture Review 11, “Boston Center for Arts Gateway Project” Princeton Architectural Press, 1999
  • Art in America, “Report from Boston: Art Around the Hub: Reclamation Park Pathways”, 1999
  • The New York Times, “Let in the Light; Show off the Tub,” Fred Berstein, (TriBeCa Live Work Loft), 1998
  • House and Garden, “Defining Moments/City Lights,” Wendy Moonan, 1998

WRITING BY MPA 

“Terminal Iron Works: Skies In A Room”
Sandro Marpillero
Vesper, 2022
“Pieces of the World: Yves Brunier’s Landscape Representations”
Linda Pollak
Representing Landscapes: One Hundred Years of Visual Communication, 2022 
“Pre-Figurations,” “Architectural Exhibition as Environmental  Apparatus,” and “Constellation“
Sandro Marpillero
Università Iuav di Venezia, 2020, 2022, 2024 

more writing by mpa

  • Peri-Urban Water Management in Gujarat, Sandro Marpilllero, Sonal Beri, Omer Gorashi, Columbia University, 2023
  • “Changing NYC: Designing as Competitive Advantage,” Sandro Marpillero, Linda Pollak & Enrico Fontanari, Lotus International n. 153, 2015
  • “Rosalind Kraussis Diagrams,” Sandro Marpillero, Papapetros Ed. Retracing the Expanded Field, Boston, MIT Press, 2014 
  • “Architecture as Infrastructure for Interactivity,” Linda Pollak, Imperfect Health Canadian Centre for Architecture, 2013
  • “Infrastructural Sublime,” Sandro Marpillero Baratloo Ed. Rebooting Urban Design, New York: New Model Cities, 2013 
  • “Review of NYC High Performance Landscape Guidelines,” Linda Pollak, TOPOS Landscape Journal, 2011
  • “Re-Fuse, Ref-Use,” Sandro Marpillero, SlumLab/Last Round Ecology, Fall 2011
  • “Urban Topographies,” Linda Pollak [Interview with Cassim Shepard], Urban Omnibus, 2011
  • “Situating Urban Ecological Research,” Linda Pollak, Ecological Urbanism, w/Alex Felson, Mostafavi, Doherty eds., 2010  
  • “Courtyard Landscape,”  Linda Pollak, MVVA: Reconstructing Urban Landscapes, 2009
  • “Matrix Landscape: Construction of Identity in the Large Park,” Linda Pollak, Large Parks, Czerniak, Hargreaves eds., 2007
  • “Art-as-Landscape-as-Architecture,” Sandro Marpillero, Lotus International, n.128, 2006 
  • “Constructed Ground: Questions of Scale,” Linda Pollak, Landscape Urbanism Reader, 2006
  • “Landscape as Agent of Urban Reclamation,” Linda Pollak, Lotus International No. 128, 2006
  • “And: Teaching Landscape in Architecture,” Sandro Marpillero and Linda Pollak, 30/60/90, n.4, 2004 
  • “Apparatus vs. Object,” Sandro Marpillero, A.Kahn Ed. Constellations. New York: MSAUD / New Urbanisms, 2002
  • “Fresh Kills–Sublime Matters,” Linda Pollak, Praxis 4: Landscapes, 2002
  • “Zaha Hadid_Topographies,” Linda Pollak, Constructs, Yale, Fall 2002
  • “Interdisciplinarity in the Downsview Park Competition Teams,” Linda Pollak, CASE: Downsview Park,  J. Czerniak, ed., 2002
  • “Architecture as Apparatus,” Sandro Marpillero, Process n.4, Fall 2001
  • “Beyond the Box,” Linda Pollak, Modulus 25: Industrial Intersections, William Stout Publisher, 2000
  • “Interview with Gino Valle,” Sandro Marpillero, Lotus Navigator n.1, 2000
  • “City-Architecture-Landscape; Strategies,” Linda Pollak, Daidalos N° 73, Built Landscapes, pp. 48-59, Spring 2000
  • “Space of Flows: fountain as urban apparatus,” Linda Pollak, Lotus International, vol. 102, pp. 6-29, 2000 
  •  “Strategic Thresholds,” Sandro Marpillero, Daidalos n.71, June 1999
  • “American Ground: 4 kinds of disturbances,” Linda Pollak, Lotus International Vol. 100, pp. 104-131, Spring 1999 
  • Inside/Outside: between Architecture and Landscape, Linda Pollak and Anita Berrizbeitia, Rockport Publications, 1999
  • “Partially open spaces,” Linda Pollak, Appendix 4, pp. 76-97, 1999
  • “Elevating Nature: the roof garden as urban retreat,” Linda Pollak, Domain, Premiere Issue, Fall 1998 
  • “Pieces of the World: Nature-Objet/Nature-Space,” Linda Pollak, Daidalos N° 65, The Grove, September 1997
  • “Limited Interventions: Paradigms for the Urban Garden,” Linda Pollak, Public Art Issues 3, Urban Paradise, pp. 14-31
  • “Figuring Ground / Site as Program,” Linda Pollak, Progex, Issue #9, pp. 26-31, January 1993 
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