On January 12, a US$3.8 million public restroom in Staten Island, New York, captured the spotlight by winning a coveted 2026 American Institute of Architects (AIA) New York Design Award.

The public restroom in Luis Lopez Playground was recognized for its modular construction and could serve as a model for future New York City facilities. As CMM reported earlier this month, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani launched a new program to expand access to public restrooms citywide, committing $4 million to the effort.

A jury of independent architects, educators, and planners from outside New York City selected the 2026 winners of the AIA New York Design Awards. Chosen from over 200 entries, the winning projects span scales and types, from cultural institutions and academic buildings to smaller interventions in public space. The facility was among 24 projects honored by the organization.

“We saw this project as taking on a challenge that many people have not solved for decades: How do you provide comfort, rest, and peace in a cost-effective, replicable way across many parks within a system?” asked Brie Hensold, a member of the voting jury, an honored member of American Society of Landscape Architects, and co-founder and principal of Agency Landscape + Planning. “This project considers the needs of caregivers, children, maintenance workers, and the unhoused community and offers a way for people to stay and linger and visit public spaces much longer than they could otherwise. This is proof-of-concept for a system that is modular and can be implemented across a much broader system that could inspire, not just here, but across the country.”

According to reporting from the Advance/SILive.com, the shipping container-like restroom was designed in 2021 and unveiled in 2024, and was the first of its kind in NYC. It was manufactured in three pieces at a Pennsylvania factory before it was transported and assembled on-site.

This public restroom was designed for NYC Parks as a pilot project using modular construction to deliver a more cost- and time-efficient result. The requirements were based on the current NYC Parks Standard Public Restroom Design for conventionally built restrooms with two restroom spaces and one maintenance and operations space.

Based on extensive research into modular construction and its key drivers, a design with optimized modules was developed to enable citywide delivery and installation. This modular design was reviewed and approved by the NYC Public Design Commission for use in other locations throughout New York City.

The color of the public restroom’s thin brick cladding will be adjusted to match the neighborhood and community it serves. Additionally, the modular design enables quick, affordable expansion of the public restroom supply.

NYC plans to build more modular restrooms, including a red, yellow, and orange version. The Parks Department intends to reconstruct 36 of its more than 700 comfort stations and add 46 new restrooms under its Better Bathrooms initiative.

Momentum is building for the 2026 ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit, the premier Capitol Hill fly-in event for the cleaning industry, March 23-24 in Washington, D.C. This year’s summit will be the keystone event taking place during International Cleaning Week. ISSA is co-hosting this year’s summit with the Business Service Contracts Association International (BSCAI); INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry; Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC); International Franchise Association (IFA); New England Sanitary Supply Association (NESSA); Pacific Association of Business Service Contractors (PABSCO); and the Restoration Industry Association (RIA).

“The 2026 summit is a unique opportunity for the cleaning and facility solutions industry to build on our legislative successes in 2025,” said John Nothdurft, ISSA Director of Government Affairs. “The bringing together of so many influential associations gives the industry a bigger voice and more influence on the critical policy issues being debated on Capitol Hill that will impact the industry for years to come. Hearing directly from business leaders firsthand is the most impactful way to advance the industry’s policy priorities and strengthen our collective voice in Washington, D.C.”

The 2026 summit will take place at the Royal Sonesta Washington, D.C., Capitol Hill, within walking distance of the Capitol. Attendance will include more than 140 industry leaders representing a cross section of the cleaning and facility solutions industry, including manufacturers, distributors, residential and commercial cleaning companies, restoration cleaning companies, and franchises.

“Franchised cleaning brands are directly affected by the labor and regulatory policies shaping today’s business environment,” said Jeff Hanscom, International Franchise Association senior vice president, state and local government relations and policy. “With so many shared members in this space, IFA is proud to support the ISSA 2026 Clean Advocacy Summit and partner with ISSA to ensure policymakers understand how smart policy helps franchise systems grow, support local owners, and create jobs.”

“INDA is excited to again partner with ISSA to co-locate our Third Annual INDA Fly-In and Advocacy Summit at the Clean Advocacy Summit, which is quickly becoming one of the premier annual advocacy events in Washington, D.C.,” said Wes Fisher, INDA director of government affairs. “Over the last two years, dozens of INDA members have joined ISSA’s programming and additionally held sessions and congressional meetings specific to the nonwovens industry, including promoting the bipartisan WIPPES Act. As an association representing the manufacturers of many cleaning and personal care products, we look forward to continuing our fantastic partnership with ISSA and the Clean Advocacy Summit.”

“The IICRC is proud to once again partner with ISSA for its Clean Advocacy Summit,” added IICRC director of Government Relations, Robbie Bradshaw. “The cleaning and restoration industries are integral to public health, safety, and disaster recovery, and it is vital that our voices are represented and heard in the policymaking process on Capitol Hill.”

“United industry advocacy strengthens our collective voice with policymakers, advancing policies that support workforce development, healthy workplaces, and economic vitality for the entire cleaning, restoration, and facility services sector,” said Vince Scarfo, RIA director of advocacy and government affairs. “We are thrilled to work alongside the ISSA team to elevate our industries in a strong collaborative approach.”

“NESSA is proud to serve as a supporting organization for the 2026 Clean Advocacy Summit and International Cleaning Week,” added Nicole Bernardo, NESSA executive director. “As a leading representative of the sanitary supply industry in New England, we look forward to elevating our members’ voices and advocating for initiatives that will help shape and advance the future of our industry.”

On the first day of the industry’s largest fly-in event, participants will get the “inside scoop” on the key public policy issues facing their business and industry, including labor, supply chain, and tariff challenges; cleaning product regulations; the promotion of healthy workplaces; the end of period poverty; and more. On the second day, participants will apply their new knowledge and skills by heading to Capitol Hill to meet with their congressional delegation to advance the industry.

For questions about the 2026 ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit or sponsorship opportunities, please contact John Nothdurft.