Each year The U.S. Green Building Council – Illinois (USGBC-Illinois) acknowledges several outstanding leaders and stand-out buildings that have helped to position Illinois as a national leader in sustainability through their annual Emerald Awards. In its 10th year, the winners were celebrated at USGBC-Illinois’ annual Limelight event held May 14th at the Museum of Broadcast Communication in Chicago. It was an evening of good food, good drinks, dancing, and mingling with members of the local green building community. Most importantly, it was an evening to recognize the best and brightest contributors to a more sustainable built environment across Illinois.
“This year, the outstanding achievements in sustainable leadership being recognized underscore why Illinois is leading the nation in green building innovation,” said Brian Imus, USGBC-Illinois Executive Director. “We applaud their efforts to help make our buildings and communities more sustainable, prosperous, and healthy.”
The 10th annual Emerald Award winners include:
Colin Rohlfing, Vice President and Sustainable Design Leader in HOK’s Chicago office, was honored with the Intent to Matter: Individual Leadership award for his outstanding career, as he has worked promote unique industry collaborations that move sustainable practices forward and transform our built environment.
Niles Township High School District 219 was recognized with the Intent to Matter: Outstanding Organization award for their comprehensive plan to leverage green infrastructure to supercharge the achievement of every student and ensure the next generation of eco-conscious citizens. The district works to reduce its environmental footprint, and inspires its students, staff, and community to become active participants in doing so.
A Green Building Innovation award was presented to method products, pbc for the industry’s first LEED Platinum manufacturing facility in the historic Pullman area. The facility exudes the company’s core mission and its commitment to the environment and sustainability.
UChicago Child Development Center – Stony Island was recognized with a Green Building Innovation award. The Center beautifully immerses the children with the natural world, providing exciting opportunities for discovery and sensory development while emphasizing the natural landscape over the built one.
Sarah E. Goode STEM Academy was acknowledged with a Green Building Innovation award for the design team’s remarkable efforts to bring the first LEED Platinum rating to Chicago Public Schools. The project’s innovative water use and management, passive solar systems, and health-focused student environment set a high sustainability bar for K-12 schools.
Space to Grow: Greening Chicago’s Schoolyards received the Chapter Mission award recognizing the impact collaborations can have in building better, brighter, and healthier spaces to live, learn, and work. This diverse coalition of organizations is transforming Chicago schoolyards into spaces that provide students and their community with opportunities for active play, outdoor learning, environmental literacy and engagement with art, while addressing neighborhood flooding issues.
Photos by Mark Campbell Photography.
Photos by Mark Campbell Photography.
Photos by Mark Campbell Photography.
Photos by Mark Campbell Photography.
