Eligibility and Criteria

Minimum Eligibility for Submission

    The following minimum criteria must be met in order for a development to be eligible for the Terwilliger Center Award:
  • The Development can be for new construction or preservation.
  • Development can be located anywhere in the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, Canada and Mexico
  • The development can be mixed-income, or fully affordable in a high-cost market. (Developments that target middle-income earners should instead apply for the Jack Kemp awards.)
  • Development should be completed and fully occupied by residents at time of submission. No part of the development should remain under construction.
  • Development should demonstrate innovation yet serve as a model for other developers to replicate.

*Please note: you do not need to be a ULI member to apply.*

Evaluation Factors

In addition to the minimum eligibility requirements, the following provides some context for how the jury reviews and evaluates our awards:

  • Attainability: Degree to which the development provides new mixed-income or low-income housing, or rehabilitates and preserves existing affordable housing where covenants are expiring.
  • Community: How does this development fit into and / or meet the existing community and its needs:
    • Is this development providing greater attainability in a neighborhood experiencing increasing rents or displacement; or, did this development add greater attainability in a traditionally high-cost/unaffordable neighborhood
    • Has this project had some other positive impact on the community?
  • Equity and Impact: 
    • Degree to which the project has prioritized equity in its hiring and contracting goals.
    • Did the development team engage the appropriate community members and stakeholders? Was the process inclusive (e.g. language translation, accessibility, opportunities at different times of the days)?
  • Amenities and Residential Livability:
    • If there are amenities or services attached to the building, are they being utilized? Are they available to all residents regardless of income?
    • If there is a retail component, has it been leased? Is it retail that is appropriate for the residents (e.g. not a high-end restaurant)
  • Design and Construction: Did the design or construction lower costs to allow for greater affordability?
  • Sustainability: Does the building design incorporate any innovative features that reduce water waste, improve energy efficiency, or enhance the project’s resiliency?
  • Financing: The development should demonstrate creativity and/or replicability in terms of the financing sources and structure.
  • Innovation & Replicability: Degree to which some component of the development (e.g. financing, construction technologies, affordability structure) is moving the needle yet can still plausibly serve as a model for other developers.

The application period for the 2023 housing awards has closed. Winners will be announced at ULI’s Fall Meeting in Los Angeles, and applications will reopen for the 2024 cycle in the fall.

Have a question on the eligibility and criteria of the award? Email us at [email protected].