Tom’s Thumb Trailhead in the Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve has recently garnered four awards at the local and regional levels for design excellence and sustainable design.  The Arizona Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) honored the project with two awards, the Honor Award (highest honor) and SRP Sustainable Award.  Additionally, AIA Western Mountain Region, which represents submissions from five western states, awarded the project with an Award of Excellence (highest honor) and locally Arizona Forward honored it with a Crescordia Award under the category of Civic Buildings.

Per the Arizona Forward 33rd Annual Valley Forward Environmental Excellence Awards Book, “Arizona Forward initiated Valley Forward’s Environmental Excellence Awards in 1980 to recognize outstanding contributions to the physical environment of our local communities. The program has grown significantly and now serves as a benchmark for promoting livability, conserving natural resources and sustaining our unique desert environment for future generations.

SRP joins us as title partner of this prestigious event for the 12th consecutive year. The nation’s oldest reclamation project, SRP is a founding member of Arizona / Valley Forward and continue sits centennial heritage of environmental leadership.

We received more than 110 entries in this year’s competition, demonstrating the priority of sustainable design and development in Arizona. Submissions encompassed the following categories: buildings and structures, livable communities, site development and landscape, art in public places, environmental technologies, environmental education/communication and environmental stewardship.

A professional panel of jurists identified a maximum of two Awards of Merit and one coveted first-place Crescordia winner per category. The President’s Award was selected from among Crescordia recipients and is presented to an organization or individual that has had a special impact on the environment.

Since its inception in 1969 as Valley Forward, Arizona Forward has brought business and civic leaders together to convene thoughtful public dialogue on regional issues and to improve the sustainability of communities in the Grand Canyon State. Our membership is diverse and includes Arizona’s most prominent large corporations and small businesses, municipalities and other government agencies, educators, nonprofits and a host of concerned citizens.”

For more information on the 2013 Arizona Forward Environmental Excellence Awards:  http://www.arizonaforward.org/pdf/2013_EEA_Award_Book.pdf

Project included in Week #14 Issue of AIArchitect at:  http://www.aia.org/practicing/AIAB101836