On October 29 at Union Trust in Philadelphia, the Delaware Valley Green Building Council will honor six finalists in the annual Groundbreaker Awards, including the Venice Island Revitalization, and will announce three winners. The Groundbreaker Awards celebrate transformative leadership in the green building community and industry. DVGBC recognizes projects that are moving the market, impacting the region, and influencing others to do the same around the corner or around the world.

The comprehensive Venice Island Revitalization project was named as a finalist, including the performing arts center designed by BKP, the sewer basin reconstruction and infrastructure improvements by Hazen and Sawyer, and site master planning and high performing landscape design by Andropogon. The project revitalized an abandoned, flood-prone site into a vibrant community space. Venice Island represents a shining example of design and construction teammates and city agencies working together for the benefit of the environment and community. From the green-roofed pumping station to the solar-powered site lighting to the high-tech glazing on the arts center, Venice Island is greater than the sum of its parts. The project is emblematic of the City of Philadelphia and Philadelphia Water’s commitment to sustainable design and to making places that balance functional and environmental goals.

BKP is proud to announce that Project Manager Caitlin A. Daley, Assoc. AIA, has passed all parts of the NCARB Architectural Registration Exam and is now a registered architect in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Daley has been part of the BKP team since 2010, contributing her creativity as a senior designer and problem-solving skills as a project manager. A self-starter, Caitlin is an office leader who has earned the trust and confidence of clients through her attention to detail and organization. Last year, she co-authored “Freshen Up: Trends in Higher Education Dining Facilities” for American School & University magazine, highlighting her work at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Pennsylvania.

BKP Principal Joseph Powell, AIA, LEED AP, joined the Cape May County, New Jersey, library administration team to present at the Summer Library Management Conference 08 June 2015. Following the success of last year’s presentation at the same conference, Joe joined Ann Marie McMahon, LEED AP BD+C, Facilities Director for Cape May County, and Deborah Poillon, MLS, Director of the Cape May County Library System, to present “Renovation Realities Part II: How Best Practices Achieved a Successful Library Renovation for Wildwood Crest Public Library.”

Renovation Realities Part I demystified the process of library renovation, offering perspectives from the architect and library administrators about design of the new Wildwood Crest Public Library, opening later this summer. With the project nearing completion, the Cape May library team returned to share their perspectives on navigating construction and achieving positive results, including how an owner’s expectations shape the construction process, how a proactive approach differentiates a design team, the importance of good drawings, and how specific challenges were overcome.

Pictured left to right: Deb Poillon, Joe Powell, and Ann Marie McMahon.