Orange County Government is calling for entries for the Orange County Sustainable Development Awards Program. The awards program recognizes outstanding projects in four submittal categories: Sustainable Development, Low-Impact Development, Transit-Oriented Development, and Infill and Redevelopment. Owners, planners, architects, landscape architects, developers, contractors, engineers, and students are encouraged to deliver projects which have been planned (or designed and submitted for permitting) within the past three years.
“Our first annual Sustainable Development Awards will recognize and encourage innovative owners and development teams which design and implement sustainable developments,” said Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs. “In highlighting these achievements, Orange County leadership seeks to inspire others to explore and implement sustainable design and development — where residents actively seek to live, work, learn, shop, recreate and raise a family. By extension — the Award Program also honors and encourages sustainably vibrant and attractive developments which will serve the millions of annual visitors to Orange County.”
Projects may receive one of four Awards: the Mayor’s Award; the Green Award; the Award of Excellence; or the Award of Merit. All entries will be evaluated by a jury of County staff members. Staff jurors may recognize as many projects as they see fit in each category.
- Mayor’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Community: In exceptional cases, the Mayor’s Award may be given to projects within unincorporated Orange County that demonstrate outstanding qualities of sustainability and contribution to the community.
- Green Award: The Green Award recognizes innovative solutions to environmental challenges. This award honors projects that display environmentally sensitive site planning, sustainable storm water capture, sustainable building practices, and/or energy and water efficient design.
- Award of Excellence: This award is given to projects that exhibit excellence in nearly every aspect of planning and execution. Open to any design category.
- Award of Merit: This award is given to projects that exhibit excellence in many aspects of planning and execution. Open to any design category.
The deadline for entry submittal is 5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. Submission details and judging criteria are available on the Orange County Planning Division’s website. Entry fee is $95. For more information, click here.
Award recognitions will be hosted by the Board of County Commissioners in the Commission Chambers of the Orange County Government Administration Center on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016, beginning at 1 p.m. Join Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, the Board of County Commissioners, and division managers and staff from the Planning, Zoning, Building, Public Works and Environmental Protection Departments – while they recognize the most sustainable developments in Orange County.
