Vancouver, BC – The GLOBE Foundation and World Green Building Council are pleased to recognize the architects who, as a group, have developed the largest set of simultaneously constructed, single project, low environmental impact facilities in history.

Fifteen architectural firms involved in nine projects for the Games have been presented with a one-time award for Excellence in Green Building Practices. “These firms have displayed a commitment to green building by incorporating building technologies and materials that minimize environmental impacts while taking advantage of local resources, innovations, and businesses,” says Thomas Mueller, President of the Canada Green Building Council.

Mueller presented the awards on behalf of the GLOBE Foundation and World Green Building Council at a special ceremony held at the newly constructed Trout Lake Ice Rink, which will be used for figure skating training ahead of the Games. Trout Lake is just one of nine facilities recognized internationally for their green building initiatives. Other facilities receiving recognition include the Richmond Olympic Oval; Killarney Ice Rink; Vancouver Convention Centre; Vancouver Olympic Village, including the South East False Creek Community Centre; Vancouver Olympic Centre; Whistler Sliding Centre; Whistler Olympic Park; and the Whistler Olympic/Paralympic Village, including the Whistler Athletes’ Centre.

“The bar for green building practices around the world has reached new heights with the development and construction of the new facilities for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games,” says Dr. John Wiebe, President and CEO of the GLOBE Foundation, an international organization whose mandate is to promote the business case for sustainable development.

This group of facilities represents an unparalleled showcase for green building and innovations in non-residential wood design and construction, providing examples that can be used to further the green building movement on a global scale.

"During the Olympics, people from around the world are going to see first-hand that B.C. is a global leader in wood product innovation and design." says Pat Bell, Minister of Forests and Range. "These facilities showcase our wood products and will inspire architects and developers in B.C. and abroad to create stylish, functional buildings with carbon-storing and sustainably harvested B.C. wood.”

An award was also presented to the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) in recognition of its leadership in the sustainable building movement. VANOC played a key role in the development of all recognized facilities, with the exception of the Vancouver Convention Centre, which was a provincial project.


About The Award
The award for Excellence in Green Building Practices is a one-time award being presented to architects in the form of a handcrafted Parallam clock. Vancouver woodworker David Gilmore was commissioned to create the clock, which is made from salvaged British Columbia wood. The award was handed out to representatives from the following architectural firms: Walter Francl Architecture, Acton Ostry Architects, Hughes Condon Marler Architects, Nick Milkovich Architects, Merrick Architecture, GBL Architects Group, IBI/HB Architects, DA Architects + Planners, MCM Partnership, LMN Architects, Cannon Design, CJP Architects, Stantec, Hottson Bakker Boniface Haden architects + urbanistes, Burrowes Huggins Architects.

About GLOBE Foundation
The GLOBE Foundation is an international, not-for-profit organization dedicated to finding practical business-oriented solutions to the world’s environmental challenges. Formed in 1993, GLOBE has helped companies and individuals realize the value of economically viable environmental business opportunities through its conferences and events, research and consulting, project management, communications and awards. For more information please go to www.globe.ca.

About World Green Building Council
The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) is a union of national councils whose mission is to accelerate the transformation of the global built environment towards sustainability. Current member Green Building Councils, (GBCs) represent over 50 per cent of global construction activity, and touch more than 10,000 companies and organizations worldwide. GBCs are consensus-based, not-for-profit organizations that are highly effective at engaging leaders across sectors to transform the built environment. For more information please go to www.worldgbc.org.