Color—and a distinguished group of design professionals who are true believers in its power and passionate about its use—will be celebrated when Benjamin Moore presents the HUE Awards, Tuesday, April 3, at Hearst Tower, 300 West 57th Street, New York, N.Y.

The honorees emerging from this year’s competition include D’Aquino Monaco Inc, New York, for Residential Interiors; Architecture Is Fun, Chicago, for Contract Interiors; and, Publicolor, for Social Responsibility.

They competed in a field of nearly 100 entries and each will be receiving the hand-blown, paint drop-shaped crystal HUE sculpture plus a $5,000 cash prize that recognizes exceptional use of color in architecture and interior design.

Additionally, New York interior designer Muriel Brandolini was named by the judges to receive the HUE Lifetime Achievement Award, and 89-year-old itinerant muralist Virginia McLaughlin, of Frederick, Md., will be presented a Special Achievement Award at the 2012 ceremony.

“This is now the fifth year Benjamin Moore has held the HUE competition,” said Eileen McComb, director of corporate communications, Benjamin Moore. “And each year the honorees’ work awes us with not simply a richness of color but also with the scope of breathtaking talent and imagination. This year’s judges had no easy task in making their decisions, but it’s another group of amazing architects and designers who will receive the HUEY. We are excited to salute their individual achievements and add them to the esteemed roster of what now numbers 29 honorees.”