USGBC recognizes leaders transforming the built environment for health

by Christopher Brinckerhoff | December 9, 2024 6:00 am

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The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)[2] announced its 2024 USGBC Leadership Awards recipients. These annual honors, first presented in 2002, recognize leadership and commitment to creating a built environment that enhances health, equity, resilience, sustainability, and prosperity for all.

This year, USGBC selected six individuals and organizations that have made best practice standard practice across the building industry. This year’s award recipients have demonstrated a track record of leadership in innovation, education, and performance needed to scale green building and accelerate market transformation.

“The USGBC Leadership Awards recognize individuals and organizations at the forefront of our movement to transform the built environment,” said Peter Templeton, president and CEO of USGBC. “This year’s honorees have significantly contributed to scaling green building across our industry. Their collective actions are helping make thriving, healthy, sustainable, and resilient buildings and communities a reality for millions of people around the world.”

Leadership Award for Organizational Excellence

The Leadership Award for Organizational Excellence is given to outstanding organizations whose vision, leadership, and commitment have significantly advanced the green building industry. This year’s recipients are:

• U.S. General Services Administration (GSA): The federal agency has consistently championed sustainable development and operations across its vast real estate portfolio, earning LEED certification on more than 400 projects. Additionally, GSA has ensured that all new construction and major renovation projects of federal government buildings meet LEED standards, building capacity, and expertise within the industry, helping scale green buildings throughout the entire building sector.
• ITC Hotels: ITC Hotels has established itself as a global leader in LEED Zero, having certified the first LEED Zero Carbon hospitality project globally and applying this success to 12 additional projects. Additionally, ITC Hotels has achieved LEED Zero water certification at four hotel chains and has reduced the use of single-use plastic at 150 touch points across its hotel operations.
• Turner Construction: Turner is a renowned leader in construction and green building, maintaining an extensive portfolio of LEED-certified projects and counting more than 1,500 LEED credential holders among its staff. Additionally, Turner plays an active role in efforts to decarbonize the construction industry. It has worked to reduce embodied carbon emissions and resource use on its project sites. It has monitored energy and water consumption across all its projects. It has also implemented strategies to reduce emissions, including electrifying its fleet and equipment. In short, Turner has set an example for others and paved the way for sustainable market transformation in the construction sector.

Congressional Award

Newly introduced, the Congressional Award honors a member of Congress whose exemplary and influential work has expanded sustainable, higher-performing buildings across the U.S. This year’s recipient is:

• U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland: Through his decades in Congress, Sen. Cardin has been a champion for green building and a trusted USGBC partner. With his voice and legislation, he has driven decarbonization in federal buildings and spurred action and innovation across the private sector, delivering impactful policies like the Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings tax deduction. Guided by science and the well-being of his fellow Americans, Sen. Cardin has enlisted the power of the federal government to produce a better, more sustainable built environment for all.

The Kate Hurst USGBC Leadership Award

The Kate Hurst USGBC Leadership Award is presented to an outstanding leader who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to sustainability in the built environment. This year’s recipient is:

• Kath Williams: Kath has been a champion of green buildings and sustainability education since USGBC was founded. Her work on Montana State University’s EPICenter project served as a test case for LEED certification in the organization’s earliest years. As an educator, she has helped students and professionals gain critical skills in green building and sustainability. She has greatly impacted her local community and has been recognized by USGBC-Montana with its first “Pioneer” award. Additionally, she has taken her work globally and worked with the World Green Building Council to establish new green building councils across Asia and Latin America.

Malcolm Lewis IMPACT Award

The Malcolm Lewis IMPACT Award was created in honor of Malcolm Lewis’ significant contributions as a volunteer leader supporting the development and success of the LEED certification system. The award celebrates volunteer efforts across the U.S., moving the needle for green buildings and communities. As part of the award, USGBC will make a $10,000 donation to recognize the impact created by volunteer efforts and support their continued success.

ECHO Project: Short for the Embodied Carbon Harmonization and Optimization Project, ECHO is a coalition of industry groups working to standardize reporting of embodied carbon emissions to accelerate the rapid reduction of embodied carbon in the built environment. Its collective efforts drive the alignment of standards and definitions to reduce complexity and motivate action across our industry.

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