commentHome Depot Awards of Excellence
The Home Depot Foundation, a philanthropic branch of the construction supplies giant, has announced the winners of the 2008 Awards of Excellence for Affordable Housing Built Responsibly. Created in 2002, the Foundation encourages sustainable community building for working families, and has awarded $70 million to nonprofits for the development of over 50,000 homes.
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The Madison Area CLT won the $75,000 first prize in the Homeownership Project category for its Troy Gardens initiative. This 31-acre mixed-income community, designed by Glueck Architects, is an urban infill project in Madison, WI that supports affordable green housing. Homes feature energy-efficient appliances, low-flow fixtures, solar panels, and rain barrels. It also partially supports itself with an organic farm and garden.
In the Rental Project category the Foundation chose the Margot and Harold Schiff Residences in Chicago as the recipient of the $75,000 first prize. Developed by the Mercy Housing Lakefront group with Murphy/Jahn and Smith and Smith architects, this 96-unit rental complex provides housing to the formerly homeless and handicapped. The Schiff Residences have also been certified LEED Silver; they produce some of their own power through wind turbines while utilizing the area’s first gray water system.
Beyond cash prizes the Foundation also granted its Visionary Award for Outstanding Leadership in Affordable Housing Built Responsibly toS. Richard Fedrizzi. As president and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council, wielder of the LEED certification, Fedrizzi was commended for crafting residential green building standards for families of all income levels.
