2019 Austin Green Awards Recognizes
Four Outstanding Projects
The four Awardees of the 2019 Austin Green Awards were
announced at the Austin Green Awards Celebration on October 30th: Projects of the Year Texas Mutual
Insurance Company Headquarters and Advanced Green Builder Demonstration, along with Mary Elizabeth
Branch Park and UPCycle. Details on each are below.
In her welcome, Austin Energy Green Building’s Sarah Talkington poignantly noted, “The Earth is nothing if
not resilient. It is us humans that are relatively delicate: we require an atmosphere of breathable air,
drinking water, and a very specific temperature range. The Earth will go on without us. It is human survival
on this Earth that is threatened. The challenge we face is that the economy and Earth are less equitable for
our most vulnerable people and communities. The projects we are celebrating tonight change what is
possible, and help us establish a brand new status quo.”
Ms. Talkington’s remarks were followed by Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea’s compelling keynote,
who engaged the audience: “So what do we know about what’s headed our way in Central Texas? What do
we need to be preparing for? As the people who are responsible for the design of our built environment,
we’re going to be looking for a lot of help!” Commissioner Shea closed with, “I believe in the power of
human ingenuity. I believe we are wired for survival and that resilience is in our DNA. The challenge for
your industry is to imagine, and design and create the cities of the future, with the full knowledge of what
is coming.”
Now in its fourth year, the Austin Green Awards is Austin’s first recognition program to specifically
highlight outstanding accomplishments in the broad arena of sustainable design and innovation,
recognizing forward facing design strategies that respond to rapidly evolving environmental, social, and
health imperatives.
With a recognition of the opportunity for the Austin Green Awards to set a high bar for
sustainable events, we set a goal for zero waste and achieved a 99% diversion.
announced at the Austin Green Awards Celebration on October 30th: Projects of the Year Texas Mutual
Insurance Company Headquarters and Advanced Green Builder Demonstration, along with Mary Elizabeth
Branch Park and UPCycle. Details on each are below.
In her welcome, Austin Energy Green Building’s Sarah Talkington poignantly noted, “The Earth is nothing if
not resilient. It is us humans that are relatively delicate: we require an atmosphere of breathable air,
drinking water, and a very specific temperature range. The Earth will go on without us. It is human survival
on this Earth that is threatened. The challenge we face is that the economy and Earth are less equitable for
our most vulnerable people and communities. The projects we are celebrating tonight change what is
possible, and help us establish a brand new status quo.”
Ms. Talkington’s remarks were followed by Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea’s compelling keynote,
who engaged the audience: “So what do we know about what’s headed our way in Central Texas? What do
we need to be preparing for? As the people who are responsible for the design of our built environment,
we’re going to be looking for a lot of help!” Commissioner Shea closed with, “I believe in the power of
human ingenuity. I believe we are wired for survival and that resilience is in our DNA. The challenge for
your industry is to imagine, and design and create the cities of the future, with the full knowledge of what
is coming.”
Now in its fourth year, the Austin Green Awards is Austin’s first recognition program to specifically
highlight outstanding accomplishments in the broad arena of sustainable design and innovation,
recognizing forward facing design strategies that respond to rapidly evolving environmental, social, and
health imperatives.
With a recognition of the opportunity for the Austin Green Awards to set a high bar for
sustainable events, we set a goal for zero waste and achieved a 99% diversion.