The five finalists for the 2013 Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence (RBA) have been announced. The final projects named include the Congo Street Initiative in Dallas, Texas; Inspiration Kitchens in Chicago; the Louisville Waterfront Park in Kentucky; The Steel Yard in Providence; and Via Verde in Bronx, New York

On the 25th anniversary of the accolade, the award celebrates innovative urban projects in the USA and the impact they have on US cities. With 80% more entries this year compared with the last entry period, Simeon Bruner the founder of the RBA, said: “Investment in American cities is growing. Collaborative, innovative approaches are essential to addressing the increasingly complex challenges of urban development and ensuring the long-term economic, environmental and social health of our cities.”

The selection committee members, which include editors, city mayors and architects, will begin visiting the finalist projects next month in order to select the medal winners in May. As well as winning project case studies being published in a book next year, finalists will receive cash prizes in support of the project, with the Gold Medal recipient getting €37,000 ($50,000) and €7,000 ($10,000) going to the Silver Medal recipient.