THE NEW SCHOOL TO HONOR DOUGLAS DURST AT
2008 LAGUARDIA AWARD DINNER
Annual Benefit Raises Scholarship Funds for The New School
Hosted by New School President Bob Kerrey and Featuring Keynote Speaker Will Rogers
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Thursday, November 13, 2008, at
the Mandarin Oriental New York
New York, September 29, 2008—The New School will honor Douglas Durst, the president of The Durst Organization, a premier real estate development company in New York City and one of the originators of the Green Building Movement, at its 2008 LaGuardia Award Dinner on Thursday, November 13, at the Mandarin Oriental New York. The Fiorello H. LaGuardia Award recognizes individuals who, through their contributions to New York City, exemplify the compassion, courage, and determination of the city’s legendary mayor. At the dinner, Will Rogers, president and CEO of the Trust for Public Land, will deliver a keynote speech. Proceeds from the evening will provide support to over 130 academic scholarships at The New School.
For table and ticket information, please contact The New School Office of Special Events at
212-229-5662 x3568/3570, [email protected] or www.newschool.edu/majorevents/laguardia.
Douglas Durst is a well-known real estate developer who has helped reshape the architecture of midtown Manhattan. Under his leadership, The Durst Organization became the catalyst for large-scale office development of the "New Times Square" with the completion of 4 Times Square at 42nd Street and Broadway. 4 Times Square is the first speculative office building that incorporated environmentally-responsible design and building practices. “Douglas Durst is a visionary leader who saw the benefits of building green before anyone else in the industry," said New School President Bob Kerrey. "It is appropriate that we are honoring him in a year when The New School is launching one of the first environmental studies programs in the nation to bring together design and the urban environment."
Actively engaged in a number of civic organizations, Durst is a Director of the Real Estate Board of New York, The Landmarks Conservancy, The New School, The Municipal Art Society, and the Project for Public Spaces and is the co-chair of Friends of the Hudson River Park. He has also been involved with the theatrical arts for many years and is a member of the Board of Directors of The Roundabout Theater, Primary Stages and The Town Hall. Along with other family members, he is a trustee of The Old York Foundation, founded by his father, Seymour B. Durst, which is committed to helping people understand the history and issues facing New York City through education.
Will Rogers is president and CEO of the Trust for Public Land and a nationally recognized advocate for land conservation. Under Will’s leadership, TPL has successfully tackled conservation challenges as diverse as new playgrounds in New York and Newark, the headwaters of the Connecticut River in northern New Hampshire, a new public park in downtown Santa Fe, the 25,000-acre Wao Kele O Puna of coastal Honolulu, Hawaii, and the scenic Waddle Ranch near Truckee, California. During this time, TPL's Conservation Finance Program has also helped states and communities design and pass 333 ballot measures that have created more than $30 billion in land conservation funding through bonds and sales taxes to protect air and water quality, preserve land, and create parks. TPL's Conservation Vision program has begun or completed more than 50 GIS mapping projects nationwide to help communities and regions set their conservation priorities.
Event chairs for the LaGuardia Dinner include co-chairs AIG; Robert R. Dyson, Dyson Foundation; Julien J. Studley, The Julien J. Studley Foundation; Tishman Realty & Construction Co. Inc; and dinner chairs Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder Holdings, Inc.; The Arun I. and Asmita Bhatia Family Foundation; Barnes & Noble, Inc.; Michael and Mary Gellert; Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Hoerle; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP; Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP; and Vornado Realty Trust. The benefit committee includes Anchin, Block & Anchin; Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler; Stroock Stroock & Lavan; Stephen Berger and Cynthia C. Wainwright; Bernard and Irene Schwartz Foundation; Buro Happold Consulting Engineers; Condé Nast Publications; Eagle Capital Management; Health Net; Sheila C. Johnson and William T. Newman; Michael Johnston, Capital Group Companies, Inc.; Neil LeBeau, Barnes & Noble College Booksellers; Vincent and Anne Mai; Enda McIntyre, Qwest Contracting; Rosenberg & Estis, P.C.; Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III; and William D. Zabel, Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP.
Past recipients of the Fiorello H. LaGuardia Award include former President Bill Clinton, former Senator George J. Mitchell, George David, Felix G. Rohatyn, Reuben and Arlene Mark, David Rockefeller, Henry Kravis, Arthur Levitt, Jr., Carl McCall, former Senator Patrick Moynihan, former Governor Mario Cuomo, former Mayors David N. Dinkins and Edward I. Koch, and Leonard and Louise Riggio.
ABOUT THE NEW SCHOOL
Located in the heart of New York’s Greenwich Village, The New School is a center of academic excellence where intellectual and artistic freedoms thrive. The nearly 9,400 matriculated students and approximately 5,280 continuing education students who attend the university’s eight schools enjoy a disciplined education supported by small class sizes, superior resources, and renowned working faculty members who practice what they teach. The eight schools of the university are: The New School for General Studies, The New School for Social Research, Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy, Parsons The New School for Design, Eugene Lang College The New School for Liberal Arts, Mannes College The New School for Music, The New School for Drama, and The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. For more information, please visit www.newschool.edu.
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