USGBC announces recipients of LEED Awards

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Washington, D.C., has announced the recipients of its annual LEED Homes Awards, which recognize projects, architects, developers and homebuilders who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and innovation in the residential green building marketplace.

In a release, Rick Fedrizzzi, CEO and founder of the USGBC, says, “Homes represent a critical piece of the buildings industry and our daily life. We applaud these amazing honorees for their significant contribution to greening the residential sector by implementing strategies that positively impact the environment and enhance the health and well-being of their occupants.”

According to the USGBC, for the first time, the awards recognize the LEED Homes Power Builders, which USGBC developed to honor developers and builders who have exhibited an outstanding commitment to LEED and the green building movement within the residential sector. In order to be considered a Power Builder, developers and builders must have LEED certified 90 percent of their homes/unit count built in 2015. Homes at any LEED certification level – certified, silver, gold or platinum – were eligible for consideration.

The LEED Homes Award winners are the following:

Project of the Year: The Woodlawn, Portland, Oregon

Developed by SolTerra, The Woodlawn is a LEED Platinum certified 18-unit mixed-use apartment building featuring design and construction strategies designed to shape and reconnect occupants with nature. Constructed with primarily reclaimed and highly renewable materials, and featuring 4,500 square feet of ecoroof, an outdoor roof terrace and 1,100 square feet of living wall siding.

Outstanding Single-Family Project: The Taft School Faculty Residence, Watertown, Connecticut.

The Taft School faculty home serves as a high-performance residence and learning lab for students. It is Connecticut’s first building to achieve the LEED Platinum certification under the Building, Design and Construction rating system for homes using the new LEEDv4 standard.

Outstanding Single-Family Builder: Frankel Building Group, Houston

Frankel Building Group emphasizes homeowner education and continues to promote the LEED program in its market. In 2015, the company completed 28 custom homes, all built to LEED for Homes Standards, 26 of which have or will be designated as LEED certified.

Outstanding Affordable Builder: National Church Residence, Columbus, Ohio

National Church Residences (NCR) integrates home and supportive services for seniors and vulnerable individuals. NCR is committed to pursuing LEED as a sustainability standard. Since achieving LEED Platinum certification on Buckingham Place in 2009, NCR has pursued LEED as their choice of green building certification on more than 15 projects.

Outstanding Affordable Project: Brookside Village Housing, Farmington, Maine

Brookside Village is made up of 32 one-bedroom units of affordable elderly housing. The LEED Platinum certified project has net-zero energy usage and is a low-income, federally subsidized, housing project. All materials selected and systems designed in the building are highly sustainable and energy efficient.

Outstanding Multifamily Project: Tilley Lofts, Watervliet, New York

The 80,000-square foot Tilley Ladder Warehouse sat mostly vacant the past 10 years. Through collaboration with Sustainable Comfort Inc., the warehouse was converted into 62 luxury loft-style apartments, achieved LEED Platinum certification and is considered one of the nation’s most energy-efficient residential developments.

Outstanding Multifamily Developer: Forest City Realty Trust Inc., Cleveland

Forest City Realty Trust has achieved LEED certification for many property types, including office, retail, multifamily and entire neighborhoods. Currently, Forest City has 11 multifamily projects containing more than 4,000 apartment units pursuing LEED certification.

LEED Homes Power Builders (*Represents a company that also won a LEED Homes Award):

• AMLI Residential

• Bijou Properties
• Bronx Pro Real Estate Management
• Buckingham Companies
• Cottage Homes
• Fore Property Company
• Forest City*
• Frankel Building Group*
• Gerding Edlen
• Habitat for Humanity (Charlotte)
• Habitat for Humanity (Dallas)
• Habitat for Humanity (Kent County)
• Habitat for Humanity (Matthews)
• Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services
• JCB Homes
• John Marshall Custom Homes
• McGuyer Homebuilders, Inc. (MHI) – Austin
• McGuyer Homebuilders, Inc. (MHI) – Dallas Fort Worth
• McGuyer Homebuilders, Inc. (MHI) - San Antonio
• National Church Residences*
• Sullivan Brother Builders
• The Dinerstein Companies
• The Hudson Companies, Inc.
• Uptown Rentals
• RPM Development Group

The USGBC is focused on providing a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings.