Boston – The annual Green Building Showcase celebration and awards program, hosted by Built Environment Plus (BE+), was held on Oct. 21 and highlighted the leading projects advancing the sustainability of the built environment across Massachusetts.
Over 125 attendees gathered at the newly revitalized Charles River Speedway for the first in-person awards ceremony hosted by BE+ since the Covid-19 pandemic began. A total of 13 awards were given to projects ranging from a rooftop farm at Boston Medical Center to Harvard’s Science and Engineering Complex, as well as to change agents in the field. The 14 judges were all from outside New England in an attempt to decrease bias.
“Massachusetts is leading the country in designing, building and operating a built environment that truly meets the triple bottom line of sustainability: environment, economy, and equity,” said Meredith Elbaum, BE+ executive director, “so when we celebrate the best here, we’re celebrating the best of the best.”
2021 Green Building Showcase Winners:
Green Building of the Year: Harvard University Science and Engineering Complex, submitted by Behnisch Architekten and Harvard University
Green Home of the Year: The Harvey, submitted by CBT
Student Project of the Year: Resilient Hub, submitted by Team Harvard GSD
Carbon & Energy Award: Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center, submitted by Payette
Equity & Inclusion Award: The Swift Factory, submitted by Bruner/Cott Architects
Health & Wellness Award A: Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Campus Center, submitted by Bruner/Cott Architects
Health & Wellness Award B: Boston Medical Center Rooftop Farm, submitted by Recover Green Roofs
Site & Landscape Award: Ora Seaport, submitted by Arrowstreet
Sustainable Construction Innovation Award: 69 A Street, submitted by Commodore Builders
2021 National Grid/Eversource Energy Optimization Award: Lowell Justice Center, submitted by The Green Engineer
People’s Choice Award: The Little Building, submitted by Elkus Manfredi Architects
Change Agent Award: Jacob Knowles, Director of Sustainable Design at BR+A
Emerging Change Agent Award: Kiersten Washle, Building Systems Engineer at CMTA
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“We’re energized by the incredible shift underway to reshape how we think about and act on our understanding of the built environment and its vital role in our lives,” Elbaum added, “Often it can feel like we are pushing a boulder up a mountain. Getting this community back together in person was a huge shot in the arm.”