ATX Green Awards
  • 2022 Awards
  • 2021 Awards
  • Past Awards

Recognizing six exemplary projects.

Now in its seventh year, the independently organized 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. Committed to set a high bar for sustainable events, the organizers
implemented procedures to achieve zero waste.

The six Awardees of the 2022 Austin Green Awards were announced at the Austin Green Awards Celebration on October 26th at the Sunset Room. In her introductory remarks, Heidi Kasper, representing Headline Sponsor Austin Energy Green Building, issued a call to action to the audience: “Over the last year, we find so much to celebrate with participation in Austin Energy Green Building ratings at record levels, a new commercial rating system, and the new Austin Energy Headquarters earning a 5-Star AEGB rating and LEED Platinum certification. But we’ve also witnessed 15 weather related climate disaster events totaling more than $15 billion in losses, causing major suffering in the US and around the world. And, we know that it is the most vulnerable among us who are impacted the most. More work needs to be done if we want to realize a future of climate resilient development that supports human health and well-being in a just and equitable way. I know that I’m not alone in my desire for this future, and that it will be through our combined efforts that we can be successful.”
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Heidi’s remarks were followed by urban ecologist Katie Coyne’s inspiring keynote. Katie, who serves as 
Austin’s Environmental Officer and Assistant Director of Watershed Protection Department, provided a 
passionate master class in the core beliefs – eco-feminism, non-binary thinking, abundance mindset, 
thinking across scales, inevitability of change – that make possible the magnitude of positive change that 
these times require. She closed her remarks with the following: 
 
“The idea that the best urban design, best building design, best design of cities is going to be a 
version that allows those spaces to evolve with community needs. If we’re in love with these places 
that we’re designing – and we want to be because it helps us drive our passion for this work – 
what’s the long-term accountability to these places? How can we think about stewardship and 
maintenance and operations in a way that they are part of the way we change the narrative about 
accountability to place and the way we love places well. Join me in bringing more love and magic 
and passion and fire to this work."
​

2022 Judges.

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Kendall Claus, AIA Assoc., LEED BD+C
Perkins+Will

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Aaron Seward
The Architect's Newspaper
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Greg Wolfson
EcoSmart Solution
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Victor Olgyay, AIA
Rocky Mountain Institute's Carbon Free Buildings Practice

Awardees.

PROJECT OF THE YEAR:
Austin Community College - Rio Grande Campus
SUBMITTED BY : STUDIO8 ARCHITECTS + OVERLAND PARTNERS
OWNER : AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

The overarching challenge was to transform a 100-year-old building into a state-of-the-art learning hub that enhances occupant well-being and comfort through sustainable building practices, while preserving its historical integrity. Restoration features included cleaning and patching the signature Elgin- Butler brick façade and integration of custom energy efficient aluminum clad wood windows.

The new campus honors the character of the neighborhood, strengthens connections to the community and creates an inclusive experience for all.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
HONOR – Honor the campus’s architectural heritage and educational legacy. New architectural elements should lay lightly on the historic building by venerating the existing textures and ornamental features. New detailing is simple and palette is limited, clean, white, ethereal.
FLEX – Provide Flexible, state-of-the-art instructional spaces that is adaptable as programs and teaching styles change.
CONNECT – Eliminate barriers between students, faculty, and staff. Foster collaboration.
OPTIMIZE – Optimize existing structure and enhance campus open space.
PROMOTE – Promote sustainable design and achieve LEED Gold, at a minimum.
ENHANCE – Enhance student experience and success; Enhance occupant comfort, safety,
and well-being; Enhance users’ access to technology.
submission board
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Campsite at Shield Ranch
SUBMITTED BY : HILL & WILKINSON
OWNER : SHIELD RANCH FOUNDATION

The vision was to create a fully self-sustaining facility that utilizes zero public utilities and has the lightest impact possible on native land. Throughout the design process, we were able to fully achieve the sustainability goals for electrical, sanitation, and water. Requirements set forth by the fire code prohibited us from being able to collect rainwater for the fire suppression system. Instead, we decided to install a storage tank that was designed to meet the necessary volume of water needed in the event of a fire, but rather than tie it into a water source, water is trucked in to fill the tank.

One unique aspect of the building process was that we mocked up a shelter off-site before construction started. The entire design team diligently went through it making all necessary changes before construction started. Once all final decisions were made, these shelters were fully fabricated off-site and packed up to be delivered to the site. Once on-site, we assembled these in the wooded area of the site without the use of any heavy equipment, so as not to disturb the natural landscape. To further protect the site, we fenced off all of the trail networks and roadways so that there was zero-foot traffic on the meadows and wooded areas. This prevented common trash and materials from dispersing throughout the site.

SUBMISSION BOARD
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Laurel Creek
SUBMITTED BY : hatch + ulland owen architects
OWNER : FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES

The design of Laurel Creek strives to contribute to the overall mission of ending homelessness not just by building more units but by serving those who support the residents by providing inspiring social spaces, educational facilities, and service areas. Durability and life-cycle cost considerations are paramount; our design, therefore, seeks a balance between conventional construction and high-performance state-of-the-art practices for efficiency. The vision was uncompromised through the design and construction process. The scope and importance of the Learning Center became more prominent, and the team was able to maintain the sustainability and resilience goals while construction proceeded through the height of the pandemic disruptions to labor and supply chains.

The gracious openness of the diverse communal spaces elevates the residents' homes above standard multi-family types. This design approach delivers large shaded outdoor spaces giving residents access to light, air, and nature with the agency to choose how they interact with the site, their family, and their neighbors. By selecting more refined, permanent material options and prioritizing indoor environmental quality and low maintenance, the unit design ensures a dignified dwelling over time. Multiple material, energy, and water conservation measures formed the basis of the design. These incorporate into the building's design and into the residents' daily lives with minimal disruption. Residents have reported that the quality of the units far exceeds their expectations. Here families will not just settle for shelter, but find a true home in which to grow, heal, and thrive well into the future.
SUBMISSION BOARD
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Waterloo Park
SUBMITTED BY : WATERLOO GREENWAY CONSERVANCY & CITY OF AUSTIN
OWNER :
WATERLOO GREENWAY CONSERVANCY & CITY OF AUSTIN
Grown from a vision for a community-centered, environmentally restored, and activated Waller Creek in downtown Austin, Waterloo Greenway Conservancy was founded in 2010. The organization launched an international design competition to revitalize the Waller Creek the following year, resulting in the selection of the design team Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc. and Thomas Phifer and Partners. In 2011, construction of the City of Austin’s Waller Creek Tunnel began. The mile-long tunnel is designed to remove more than 28 acres of downtown from the floodplain, keeping people safe from flash floods and making lasting creek and park restoration possible.

Twenty years later, construction on the revitalized Waterloo Park began in September 2017. The park opened to the public on August 14, 2021. The re-opening represents a homecoming of sorts, bringing music, multicultural community programming, local and international talent and family-friendly festivals back to the park. Waterloo Greenway seeks to preserve and honor history through not only park signage, but also by hosting a diverse collection of visual and multicultural performing arts. Programming is free to low-cost to the community to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to experience.

Waterloo Park is a model for other communities in its approach to strategic partnerships. Every aspect of the design, construction, and operations of the project relies on critical partnerships, and the ability to rely on different partners’ strengths to optimize each process. The Public-Private Partnership with the City provides the structure and funding, the partnership with the Downtown Austin Alliance  provides consistent and high-quality daily operations, the partnership with LiveNation/C3 provides world-class concerts, and numerous local partnerships allow WGC to program the park with exciting and relevant programs for the community. This model is increasingly critical as an example for other communities as park departments throughout the country face funding and resource limitations.

SUBMISSION BOARD
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Theresa Passive House
SUBMITTED BY : FORGE CRAFT ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN
OWNER : TREY & ADRIENNE FARMER

Theresa Passive House is a high-performance renovation and addition that blends the historic preservation of a 1914 bungalow with a modern volume and innovative sustainable design. Through a collaborative process, the architects and interior designer reimagined an efficient 2100-sf family home on a small, urban lot. The project is a case study in sustainable design and climate resiliency, applying Passive House building principles in a hot, humid climate. Throughout design and construction, rigorous objectives in energy efficiency, indoor air quality, thermal comfort, embodied carbon, and responsible materials sourcing were prioritized, with members of the design, construction, and academic community contributing to and studying the project. The residence has a strong connection to its active neighborhood and the calm of nature, with curated views of downtown, tree canopies, and the surrounding permaculture garden. The health-centered design and warm, minimalist aesthetic inspire feelings of relaxation and wellbeing in the home.

Through the Passive House certification process, a detailed energy model honed the design, assemblies, active systems and glazing, to ensure maximum comfort and efficiency and to optimize for cost and carbon. The windows are tri-pane, insulation values are double code minimum, air tightness levels are 15x tighter than maximum. Appliances, lighting, and the heat pump hot water heater are the most efficient available. The carefully designed HVAC efficiently delivers fresh, filtered air using a VRF heat pump with dedicated dehumidification and separate ERV ventilation system. The house is entirely electric, powered by solar panels and a backup battery.

SUBMISSION BOARD
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Austin Energy Headquarters
SUBMITTED BY : PAGE/ + ELS
OWNER : AUSTIN ENERGY

The primary goal for Austin Energy Corporate Headquarters at the beginning of the project was to use innovative office space to improve organization effectiveness, collaboration, customer service, daily operations, and overall productivity. That goal remained a lodestar throughout design and construction. The Austin Energy Corporate Headquarters building brings together AE departments that had been dispersed throughout Austin in different buildings.

While the overall vision remained consistent through design and construction, Austin Energy's decision to pursue WELL Building certification during design development prompted a close look at building performance and operations. The installation of a UV-light sanitizing system for the return air became a priority during the pandemic conditions and will further improve healthy air for both employees and visitors.

Co-locating all staff in a single location was a key program requirement that required a relatively large footprint, and the interior design strategy of using shared amenity spaces centralized on each floor was intended to bring employees from different departments together in an informal atmosphere. The design process revealed the need for additional satellite gathering spots on the large floorplates as well as widening the range of seating and gathering options at the exterior terrace and courtyard.
SUBMISSION BOARD
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Opening Remarks

Keynote Speech

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REJI THOMAS ART

congratulations to the awardees and thank you to all the teams that submitted to tHE awards!

  • 2022 Awards
  • 2021 Awards
  • Past Awards