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
| Aug 11, 2010
Morphosis builds 'floating' house for Brad Pitt's Make It Right New Orleans foundation
Morphosis Architects, under the direction of renowned architect and UCLA professor Thom Mayne, has completed the first floating house permitted in the U.S. for Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation in New Orleans.The FLOAT House is a new model for flood-safe, affordable, and sustainable housing that is designed to float securely with rising water levels.
| Aug 11, 2010
Turner edges out Perkins+Will for the top spot on BD+C's Top 200 Building Team LEED APs ranking
With 1,006 LEED Accredited Professionals on staff, Turner Construction took the top spot on Building Design+Construction’s 2009 ranking of AEC firms with the most LEED APs, published as part of the Giants 300 report. Turner added more than 580 LEED APs during the past year to surpass Perkins+Will, which held the top spot four years running.
| Aug 11, 2010
BIG's 'folded façade' design takes first-prize in competition for China energy company headquarters
Copenhagen-based architect BIG, in collaboration with ARUP and Transsolar, was awarded first-prize in an international competition to design Shenzhen International Energy Mansion, the regional headquarters for the Shenzhen Energy Company.
| Aug 11, 2010
Guggenheim and Google team up on shelter design competition
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Google yesterday announced the launch of Design It: Shelter Competition, a global, online initiative that invites the public to use Google Earth and Google SketchUp to create and submit designs for virtual 3-D shelters for a location of their choice anywhere on Earth. The competition opened on June 8, 2009, in honor of Frank Lloyd Wright’s birthday, and closes to submissions on August 23.
| Aug 11, 2010
EwingCole to merge with healthcare specialist Robert D. Lynn Associates
EwingCole, a nationally recognized architectural, engineering, interior design, and planning firm with more than 320 professionals, today announced that it will combine its practice with Robert D. Lynn Associates of Philadelphia, a 40-person firm with a robust portfolio of healthcare projects. The combination will create the Delaware Valley¹s largest and most comprehensive firm with an emphasis on healthcare architecture, and a national scope and presence.
| Aug 11, 2010
Jacobs, Arup, AECOM top BD+C's ranking of the nation's 75 largest international design firms
A ranking of the Top 75 International Design Firms based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit http://www.BDCnetwork.com/Giants
| Aug 11, 2010
See what $3,000 a month will get you at Chicago’s Aqua Tower
Magellan Development Group has opened three display models for the rental portion of Chicago’s highly anticipated Aqua Tower, designed by Jeanne Gang. Lease rates range from $1,498 for a studio to $3,111 for a two-bedroom unit with lake views.
| Aug 11, 2010
AIANY partners with New York's building department to launch design competition for safer, more appealing sidewalk shed
The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) and the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIANY) today announced the launch of the urbanSHED International Design Competition with support from the Alliance for Downtown New York, ABNY Foundation, Illuminating Engineering Society New York City Section (IESNYC), and the New York Building Congress.
