Avenue of the Americas Association honors CBRE, C&W, JLL and Newmark

Manhattan, NY The Avenue of the Americas Association (AoA Association) convened at the New York Marriott Marquis for its 99^th anniversary gala. Hosted by executive director Sarah Berman, the gala recognized four brokerage firms CBRE, Cushman & Wakefield, JLL, and Newmark with the association’s Gold Key Award, acknowledging their contributions to the AoA community. The event brought together building owners, brokers, tenants, and civic leaders from the Sixth Ave. corridor to celebrate the resurgence and vitality of “America’s Corporate Corridor.” 

Accepting the Gold Key Awards on behalf of their firms were Peter Turchin for CBRE, Rob Lowe for Cushman & Wakefield, Peter Riguardi, Frank Doyle, and David Kleiner for JLL, and David Falk for Newmark. 

For the first time in the association’s near-century of these awards, not a single owner or tenant was honored. Instead, the spotlight was fully on the brokerage firms whose efforts have helped restore leasing momentum and revitalization across Sixth Ave.

Gold Key Award recipients:

• CBRE, honored for its exceptional leadership and landmark leasing achievements along the Ave., including its role in repositioning the iconic 1345 Avenue of the Americas.

• Cushman & Wakefield, recognized for its global platform, forward thinking workplace strategies and deep engagement in the Avenue community.

• JLL, celebrated for its integrated advisory capabilities and major leasing transactions that continue to shape the Avenue’s future.

• Newmark, awarded for its distinguished tenant-representation work and strategic footprint at 1251 Avenue of the Americas, among other notable contributions.

“The Avenue of the Americas is thriving,” Berman said. “Five years ago, we were asking ourselves whether large blocks of space would ever fill again, whether community events would ever return. Tonight we see a transformed corridor — strong occupancies, vibrant buildings, and a community brought together by the great brokers who brought great tenants back to Sixth Avenue.”

The evening’s program included an opening welcome by Berman, followed by remarks from Whitney Arcaro, chief revenue officer at RXR Realty and chair of the Avenue of the Americas Association. Arcaro reflected on the nearly a century legacy of the association and the importance of partnership in sustaining Midtown Manhattan’s commercial ecosystem.

In her remarks, Arcaro said, “For nearly a century, Sixth Avenue has served as a powerful engine for connection, innovation and community—and that’s thanks in large part to the dedication and vision of the incredible individuals and organizations represented here tonight.”

The evening also featured a networking reception and dessert service in the hotel’s Astor ballroom. Guests had the opportunity to connect, celebrate and exchange ideas about the corridor’s ongoing evolution.

The gala exemplifies the association’s commitment to fostering community among its members, supporting the business district’s resurgence and amplifying the value of Midtown’s built environment. As the Avenue of the Americas Association looks ahead to its 100th year, it invites all of its members and friends of the corridor to remain actively engaged in the many opportunities for collaboration, place-making and business growth.

The Avenue of the Americas Association is a civic improvement corporation that advances a new vision for “America’s Corporate Corridor” in Midtown Manhattan. It represents building owners, tenants and service providers along Sixth Avenue and acts as an intermediary with government agencies on issues such as signage, transportation, public-space activation and economic growth. The Association helps its members share knowledge, build community and enhance the commercial vitality of the Avenue. For more information, visit aveoftheamericas.org.