The Urban Excellence Awards celebrates businesses, organizations, individuals, events and projects that have made significant contributions toward creating a unique, vibrant and diverse downtown environment – and have made a lasting, positive impact on Downtown Tampa. Each year an awards jury representing a cross-section of Downtown constituencies selects award winners honoring the leadership, innovation, hard work, talent and community spirit.
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This award recognizes a public sector project that has made a positive and significant contribution to Downtown; and has demonstrated a strong impact in revitalizing the Downtown area.
This award recognizes a private sector project that has made a positive and significant contribution to Downtown; and has demonstrated a commitment to assist in revitalizing the Downtown area.
This award recognizes a group partnership that has made a unique, positive contribution to Downtown; and has been responsible for a project or program that has complemented the work of the City of Tampa and the Tampa Downtown Partnership.
This award recognizes an iconic building that serves as a magnet to attract people to Downtown by improving the physical environment or by enhancing the economic, cultural or social well-being of the area.
This awards recognizes an event, entity or idea that involved people in or exposed them to a positive Downtown experience, thus enhancing their enjoyment while visiting the area.
This award recognizes a person, organization, business, project or initiative that has made a positive and significant contribution to a Downtown space or has created a more attractive pedestrian atmosphere, and commercially vibrant environment through activities, street level store front improvements or design elements.
This award recognizes a person, business, project or initiative that has made a positive and significant contribution to the Downtown marketplace or has improved Downtown by contributing a new or unique retail experience.
This award recognizes an organization, event or initiative that has had a significant and lasting impact on downtown’s arts and cultural life, stimulates economic growth, encourages tourism and enhances downtown’s cultural image.
This award is voted on by the public and recognizes a business, organization, individual, event, project or initiative that has made a significant contribution toward creating a unique, vibrant and diverse Downtown, and has made a positive impact on the Downtown community.
This award recognizes an individual that has made a positive and significant contribution to a program or project in Downtown; has added to the Downtown visitor experience and/or that has demonstrated strong leadership in revitalizing the Downtown area.
Public Sector Project Award
“Litter Skimmer” Boat – City of Tampa Solid Waste Department
Channelside Drive Redesign – City of Tampa Mobility Department and the Channel District Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA)
Private Sector Project Award
Tampa Museum of Art (TMA) Vinik Family Education Center
University of Tampa Riseman Fitness and Recreation Center
Downtown Collaboration Award
Ardent Mills Flour Mill Demolition
Tampa Union Station Baggage Building Renovations
Landmark Development Project Award
The Tampa EDITION
Legacy Encore Apartments
Downtown Experience Award
Tampa Bay History Center Walking Tours
Tampa, Kansas to Tampa Bay – Visit Tampa Bay
Activating Spaces Award
The Holiday Promenade at Water Street
Tampa Zumba In the Park/Meagan Floco
Marketplace Award
Hampton Chocolate Factory
Supernatural Food and Wine
Arts & Culture Award
Jobsite Theater at Straz Center
Tampa Fresh Foods by Lucy Sparrow / Vinik Family Foundation
Christine Burdick Downtown Person of The Year Award
This year we will honor Christine M. Burdick, former President and CEO of the Tampa Downtown Partnership, posthumously for her visionary leadership in the Downtown community.
People’s Choice Award
Bay Rocket Tampa
Bloom on Franklin
BODYBAR Pilates
Brooks, Sheppard, Rocha, PLLC
Clrty agency
Eric Soto, The Soto Group
Fit Bowl Co.
Florida Museum of Photographic Arts
Jonathan Moore, InVision Advisors
Maven Designs
Pirate Tikis
Proper House Group
ReliaQuest HQ
Roberto Torres, Blind Tiger Coffee
Roger Germann, The Florida Aquarium
Tampa Bay Holistic Wellness
The Holiday Promenade at Water Street Tampa
Zumba In the Park/Meagan Floco