Philadelphia, PA (May 12, 2017) – The Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia (SBN) proudly announces the winners of their 2017 Excellence in GSI Awards Ceremony.
On May 11, SBN’s Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) Partners honored exemplary public and private projects, and the teams of people behind them, that are bringing the environmental, social, and economic benefits of green stormwater infrastructure to life in Philadelphia and the region.
“Every public and private GSI project contributes to the improved health of our waterways and our communities. Our goal with these awards are to recognize exemplary projects and people – those that transform vacant lots, schoolyards, and campus common spaces; protect tributary headwaters; engage students and neighbors; and create unique public places. Regional investments in GSI paired with local contracting are spurring our local economy. We’re seeing business growth, job creation, and increased community health and wealth – all leading to a stronger tax base. GSI projects offer clear examples of the triple bottom line. “
- Anna Shipp, Executive Director, Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia
Michael DiBerardinis, Managing Director for the City of Philadelphia, delivered a passionate keynote to more than 150 of the region’s industry leaders and partners. He spoke to Philadelphia’s national leadership in the area of green stormwater infrastructure and the resulting replicable model we are setting for others to follow; how the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia’s members are proving every day the extent to which we can simultaneously build a robust economy and take care of people and our planet; and how important it is, especially given the current national political climate, for Philadelphia and our region to continue to lead with our successes.
“We are lucky that we have such progressive leaders, including in our Philadelphia Water Department. We will grow Philadelphia and the region with equity, fairness, and opportunity. We are the antidote.”
- Michael DiBerardinis, Managing Director, City of Philadelphia
On behalf of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia (SBN), the GSI Partners recognized excellence in GSI in the following (5) categories:
1. Public Projects: Projects managed by a public agency and/or are on public property:
Winner: Jenkintown Creek Restoration Project
Location: Jenkintown Creek H eadwaters, Jenkintown, PA
Client: Tookany/Tacony-Frankford (TTF) Watershed Partnership
Planning/Design/Construction Team: AKRF, Cerulean, NAM Planning and Design, NativeScapes, Ruppert Landscape, ThinkGreen
Maintenance/Monitoring Team: TTF Watershed Partnership, Cerulean, NatureScapes, Temple University, Villanova University
2. Private Projects: Projects managed by a private entity and/or are on private property
Winner: Frankford Friends School Nature Learning Lab
Location: 1515 Orthodox Street, Avondale, PA
Client: Frankford Friends School
Planning/Design/Construction Team: ThinkGreen, Meliora Design
3. Early Adopters: Public or Private projects 10 years or older
Winner: Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership (VUSP) Bio-Infiltration Traffic Island
Location: 800 East Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA
Client: Villanova University
Planning/Design/Construction Team: Villanova University
Maintenance/Monitoring Team: Villanova University
4. Research in GSI: Peer-reviewed, published, and/or presented academic, non-profit, government, or private research on one or more elements of the triple bottom line performance of GSI
Winner: “Monitoring Green City, Clean Waters: The First 5 Years”
Lead Research Institution: Philadelphia Water Department
5. Leadership in GSI: An individual whose work has transformed the understanding and/or use of GSI in the Greater Philadelphia region
Winner: Andy Kricun, Executive Director and Chief Engineer, Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority (CCMUA)
***
About the Sustainable Business Network and the GSI Partners
The Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia (SBN) is a community of local independent businesses that demonstrate the degree to which businesses can build profitable enterprises while serving community needs and protecting the environment. SBN’s mission is to build a just, green, and thriving economy in the Greater Philadelphia region. Since 2001, SBN has been the leading advocacy and membership organization for local independently -owned businesses committed to improving their environmental and social impacts as well as their profitability.
One of our programs that demonstrates our mission in action is our Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) Partners, which was formed to support the triple bottom line success of Philadelphia’s nationally-recognized nature-based stormwater management plan, Green City, Clean Waters.
Media Contact:
Anna Shipp
Executive Director, Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia
215.922.7400
anna@sbnphiladelphia.org
