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Project that has driven transformational innovation within the existing building market. Projects recognized should be performers of the USGBC’s Existing Building Operations and Maintenance rating system or an early adopter of the Arc management program. 

Project that has driven innovation and/or transformed the residential market. Projects submitted should be certified under the LEED for Homes rating system, including single family homes, low-rise multi-family (one to three stories), or mid-rise multi-family (four to six stories). 

Applied to projects certified under the USGBC’s LEED for Building Design and Construction  or Interior Design and Construction rating system, including New Construction, Core & Shell, Schools, Retail, Hospitality, Data Centers, Warehouses & Distribution Centers, Mixed Use, and Healthcare.

For a project, group, or person that addresses the needs of an under-resourced community, meeting USGBC’s vision of healthy and sustainable buildings for all. 

Person under the age of 30 that has already made a mark in the built environment. This is open to either someone new in the profession or a student that is making a difference in their community. 

Person or organization that has shaped a legacy in their sustainability industry within our community. A legacy application could be drawn from a diverse array of initiatives for example; building a community garden with a strong community impact, building a green program within their corporation with an impressive impact, or building a structure or product that changed the sustainability market. 

Executive Summary 
Provide an executive summary of the project’s sustainable attributes or person’s sustainability initiatives. Include any unique or outstanding circumstances, challenges overcome, or innovative practices developed that go beyond the judging criteria.  
 
Judging Criteria  
Prepare a response to each of the criteria listed in the online application form. Not all criteria may be applicable but the more areas addressed, the higher the submission will score. Details for each criteria are listed in the section below.
 
Format  
Applicants are required to complete the online application form. Applicants can submit additional support documents such as but not limited to; papers, presentations, resumes, etc. however, not to exceed more than FIVE pages in length. Scorecards do not count toward the page length restriction.  
 
Additional Images (OPTIONAL)  
At least one photo needs to be included that will be used during the ceremony for selected proposals. Additional photographs are encouraged but are considered optional. A maximum of five pages can be submitted. 

LEED Certification Level

Higher point values will be awarded based on the following; number of points achieved, LEED certification levels and LEED rating system version (i.e. v3 vs v4).  
 
Existing Building (only)

Higher point values will be awarded to third-party certified projects such as but not limited to; ENERGY STAR Ratings, project and/or portfolio in Arc or other existing building management systems.  
 
Market Transformation

Consideration will be given to initiatives made by the project team which go beyond LEED, producing new and innovative approaches in their award category.  
 
Challenges

What challenges were overcome by the project team? Applicants which can demonstrate how they overcame significant obstacles within their sustainable industry will have this considered in the awards process.  
 
Integrative Process

How has your project found strategies for collaboration across initiatives and potential building systems? Integrative process is an important part of a successful project outcomes. Project teams should demonstrate how they identified and used opportunities to achieve synergies across disciplines and between construction professionals and end-user group, and how those synergies and analyses informed the design of the project.  
 
Design Flexibility

Project teams should describe how their project or the individual has been planned or designed decision-making to accommodate future changes in development planning, building use, organizational change, and structure which will minimize the future impact on the environment.  
 
Community Engagement

Project teams should describe how their project and/or individual has engaged the participation of, and been designed to positively impact, their community. This description will vary by project scale. Higher consideration will be given to a project that has a positive effect on a larger portion of the community and especially serving those in under-resourced populations.  
 
Health and Wellness Integration

Describe how the project’s design and operations strategies or the initiatives of the individual will enhance the health and well-being of those they are designed to serve.