SteelStacks, on the site of the former Bethlehem Steel Corp. southside Bethlehem plant, has been named a winner in the inaugural Urban Land Institute (ULI) Philadelphia Willard G. "Bill" Rouse III Awards for Excellence.

Nine regional projects were honored with Awards for Excellence. Winners announced June 18 during a reception at the Ballroom at the Ben in Philadelphia.

The awards panel called SteelStacks "a truly re-markable and creative adaptive reuse" that transformed the old Bethlehem Steel plant into a state-of-the-art cultural center that "preserves the history of steelmaking while providing open space for events and setting a new course for the city."

"SteelStacks is a shining example of the incredible results that can happen when the community comes together for a common good, in this case revitalizing an old, abandoned steel mill," said Bethlehem Mayor Robert Donchez.

SteelStacks, which opened in 2011, is on one of the largest brownfields under redevelopment in the nation. Public and nonprofit partners working together to develop the project include Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority, City of Bethlehem, Bethlehem Area School District, Northampton County, ArtsQuest and PBS39.

The site's master planning was done by Wallace Roberts & Todd. Architecture and landscape architecture were done by Artefact, Spillman Farmer Architects, URS Corporation, USA Architects and Wallace Roberts & Todd. Lighting at SteelStacks was by L'Observatoire International and Speirs + Major.

Accepting the award on behalf of SteelStacks was Antonio Fiol-Silva of Wallace Roberts & Todd.

The eight other projects (listed alphabetically) as being "truly exemplary" are:

Amanda E. Stout Elementary School and Benners Court, Reading

Gateway to Camden, Campbell Soup Company, Camden, N.J.

JBJ Soul Homes, affordable housing project, off North Broad Street corridor, Philadelphia

Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square and the County Convention Center, Lancaster

Lenfest Hall, Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia

Northern Liberties, mixed-use adaptive project, Schmidt's Brewery site, Philadelphia

Paseo Verde, nation's first Platinum LEED-Neighborhood Development project, Eastern North Philadelphia

Sister Cities Park, Center City District, Philadelphia'

ULI Philadelphia had selected 28 projects in the region for consideration for the Awards of Excellence.

ULI Philadelphia received 57 nominations of projects in Eastern and Central Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Delaware which were completed within the last five years. Each was reviewed by a 14-member panel of ULI members from across the country. The jury selected and announced 28 finalists last month and then voted on the winners.

ULI, established in 1936, has more than 32,000 members around the globe. The Philadelphia District Council encompasses about 850 members throughout Eastern and Central Pennsylvania, the southern half of New Jersey and the State of Delaware.