Feature image: The LEED Gold Freedom Commons in Syracuse, New York. Image credit: Sustainable Comfort Inc.

We are pleased to announce that nominations are now being accepted for the 2023 Leadership Awards for USGBC New York Upstate.

These prestigious awards honor projects, people and partners that demonstrate excellence in working to create better buildings and to improve the lives of all in their local communities.

The Leadership Awards celebration will take place in fall 2023.

As the USGBC Market Leadership Advisory Board (MLAB) co-chair, I believe it is important that we celebrate our successes as a community. USGBC New York Upstate continues to inspire progress in the sustainable and resilient built environment for the rest of the nation. This is thanks to the hard work of project teams and individuals with the initiative and willingness to lead our communities toward a better future for all.

Please consider nominating your projects, your colleagues or yourself for any one of the awards, and help us celebrate those who make Upstate New York a better place to live, work and play.

After May 31, there will be a $25 nomination fee per project, excluding K–12 schools and nonprofit organizations. All nominations must be submitted by 9 p.m. ET on June 30.

Project awards

Buildings, neighborhoods, communities and other built projects within the USGBC Upstate New York community are eligible to be nominated for project awards. Projects are reviewed by a committee of leaders and stakeholders in the USGBC community. Judges represent a variety of perspectives and expertise in different technical, market and industry sectors. 

The USGBC New York Upstate Leadership Awards celebrate building owners and project teams for their effort to accomplish LEED certification for their buildings. LEED spaces use less energy and water; save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce carbon emissions; and create a healthier environment for occupants and the community at large.

LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement, and it is backed by an industry of committed organizations and individuals paving the way for market transformation. Project awards provide one way for USGBC to recognize these entities by naming the most exemplary projects based on technical achievement; outstanding performance, market or cultural significance; innovative technologies; creative strategies; clever problem-solving; or other aspects that make them stand out among a field of other exceptional buildings. 

Projects will be scored based on their excellence in certifications, goals, strategies, process and synergies, performance, and lessons learned.

Project award categories:

Rise to the Challenge Award
Innovation in Residential Building Award
Green Building of the Year Award
Outstanding Design and Construction Award

For a description of these award categories, please see the nomination form.

Nominees are requested to select the award category that best matches their project. However, nominations are reviewed by a panel of judges that will ultimately determine the award category most suited to each selected project.

Individual and community awards

The Leadership Awards also include categories to celebrate outstanding individuals and communities.

Kevin Stack Award

Each year, the USGBC Upstate New York community selects one person to receive the Kevin Stack Award for sustainability, the most significant honor of our annual Leadership Awards. The winner of this award

Embodies the mission of USGBC in practice, proving the value of working together for a built environment that is ecologically, socially and economically healthy, resilient and prosperous for all.
Is committed to preserving and enhancing the living world.
Is personally and professionally committed to ecoliteracy and climate change education on how the human-built environment interrelates with ecosystems and the living world.

Help us select the 2023 Kevin Stack Awardee by nominating a person who embodies these qualities within the USGBC Upstate New York community. Please note that the nomination form for the Kevin Stack Award is separate from the primary nomination form.

A selection committee of the past winners of the Kevin Stack Award will review all nominations and recommend the person who they believe should receive the award, for approval by the USGBC New York Upstate MLAB.

The winner will be announced at our annual USGBC New York Upstate Leadership Awards event in the fall.

Community Climate Champion Award

This award is given to a LEED community that demonstrates unique initiatives to address the needs of the community. The award will be given to a community that embodies USGBC’s mission of proving the value of working together for a built environment that is ecologically, socially and economically healthy, resilient and prosperous for all.

To submit a nomination for the Community Champion Award, please use the main nomination form.

Sponsorship

Show your support for green building in upstate New York by signing on to sponsor our 2023 Leadership Awards. Sign on early to maximize your promotional perks. See our sponsorship prospectus for more information.

Learn about our 2022 Leadership Award recipients.

Submit a nomination for the Leadership Awards

Nominations open for the 2023 USGBC New York Upstate Leadership Awards