The Los Angeles Chapter of the nonprofit U.S. Green Building Council will launch its Sustainable Innovation Awards this year during the chapter's 7th Annual Green Gala on Thursday, November 3, 2011, from 5:30 - 9:30pm at the LEED Certified JW Marriott at L.A. Live (900 West Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA). The Green Gala has become recognized throughout the region as the single largest annual vehicle for communication, celebration and bridge-building among those who think, act, design and build greener throughout the County of Los Angeles and its metropolitan areas.
The significance of this year's Gala is further cemented in the selection of the Keynote Speaker, Jason McLennan. Author of the Living Building Challenge (click here to view BD+C's feature article on the Living Building Challenge), international speaker and CEO of the Cascadia Green Building Council. He is considered one of the founders of the green design movement in the United States. Never one to shy away from any topic, he credits USGBC for laying the original groundwork in identifying and encouraging green design, while simultaneously challenging and inspiring the organization to continually push the envelope in the advancement of sustainable design and construction. From his unique perspective, McLennan will address the Gala's theme of "Branching Out" and how that concept is key to the Chapter's growth and empowerment as it heads into its second decade.
USGBC-LA's Inaugural Sustainable Innovation Awards will recognize exceptional achievement and innovation in each LEED category for countywide certified projects from the past two years. The awards program offers prestige, notoriety and affirmation of a project team's commitment to a sustainable built environment. The submissions-judged for innovation, community impact and team collaboration-will attract members throughout the Los Angeles County's sustainable community and be awarded regardless of LEED certification achieved. The call for submissions resides at http://usgbc-la.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/CallforEntries1.pdf, with the deadline set for Sept. 30, 2011.
The theme of the 2011 Green Gala is "Branching Out," reflecting the Chapter's broadened focus on engaging new members and communities beyond the building industry who have sustainable initiatives, as well as information and goals that are parallel to that of USGBC-LA. Additionally, due to the size and diversity of land and population issues that the Los Angeles Chapter faces, the Chapter engages its constituents on a hyper-local level via "branches" which include San Gabriel Valley, Long Beach, Westside and the anticipated newest branch, South Bay.
The annual Gala annually attracts over 400 influential guests across its industry, including architectural designers, landscapers, builders, local and regional governments, nonprofits, utility companies and those interested in collaborative sustainable initiatives that affect communities. BD+C
Related Stories
K-12 Schools | Aug 29, 2024
Designing for dyslexia: How architecture can address neurodiversity in K-12 schools
Architects play a critical role in designing school environments that support students with learning differences, particularly dyslexia, by enhancing social and emotional competence and physical comfort. Effective design principles not only benefit students with dyslexia but also improve the learning experience for all students and faculty. This article explores how key design strategies at the campus, classroom, and individual levels can foster confidence, comfort, and resilience, thereby optimizing educational outcomes for students with dyslexia and other learning differences.
Museums | Aug 29, 2024
Bjarke Ingels' Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art conceived as village of 12 pavilions
The 60,000-sm Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China recently topped out. Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the museum is conceived as a village of 12 pavilions, offering a modern interpretation of the elements that have defined the city’s urbanism, architecture, and landscape for centuries.
Adaptive Reuse | Aug 28, 2024
Cities in Washington State will offer tax breaks for office-to-residential conversions
A law passed earlier this year by the Washington State Legislature allows developers to defer sales and use taxes if they convert existing structures, including office buildings, into affordable housing.
Industrial Facilities | Aug 28, 2024
UK-based tire company plans to build the first carbon-neutral tire factory in the U.S.
ENSO, a U.K.-based company that makes tires for electric vehicles, has announced plans to build the first carbon-neutral tire factory in the U.S. The $500 million ENSO technology campus will be powered entirely by renewable energy. The first-of-its-kind tire factory aims to be carbon neutral without purchased offsets, using carbon-neutral raw materials and building materials.
Architects | Aug 28, 2024
KTGY acquires residential high-rise specialist GDA Architects
KTGY, an award-winning design firm focused on architecture, interior design, branded environments and urban design, announced that it has acquired GDA Architects, a Dallas-based architectural firm specializing in high rise residential, hospitality and industrial design.
K-12 Schools | Aug 26, 2024
Windows in K-12 classrooms provide opportunities, not distractions
On a knee-jerk level, a window seems like a built-in distraction, guaranteed to promote wandering minds in any classroom or workspace. Yet, a steady stream of studies has found the opposite to be true.
Building Technology | Aug 23, 2024
Top-down construction: Streamlining the building process | BD+C
Learn why top-down construction is becoming popular again for urban projects and how it can benefit your construction process in this comprehensive blog.
Airports | Aug 22, 2024
Portland opens $2 billion mass timber expansion and renovation to its international airport
This month, the Portland International Airport (PDX) main terminal expansion opened to passengers. Designed by ZGF for the Port of Portland, the 1 million-sf project doubles the capacity of PDX and enables the airport to welcome 35 million passengers per year by 2045.
Adaptive Reuse | Aug 22, 2024
6 key fire and life safety considerations for office-to-residential conversions
Office-to-residential conversions may be fraught with fire and life safety challenges, from egress requirements to fire protection system gaps. Here are six important considerations to consider.
Resiliency | Aug 22, 2024
Austin area evacuation center will double as events venue
A new 45,000 sf FEMA-operated evacuation shelter in the Greater Austin metropolitan area will begin construction this fall. The center will be available to house people in the event of a disaster such as a major hurricane and double as an events venue when not needed for emergency shelter.
