Feature image: The LEED Gold BNA/Nashville Interntional Airport, Administration Building. Image credit: Aerial Innovations.

The USGBC South Central region communities are pleased to announce the project finalists for the 2023 Community Leadership Awards. These prestigious awards celebrate excellence from the projects, people and partners that are working to create better buildings and better lives for all in their local communities.

Winners will be announced at events throughout the USGBC South Central region.

2023 project award finalists

Finalists represent excellence in green building and demonstrate leadership across the diverse markets in the region, which includes Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

Our project award finalists in these communities for this year are:

AC Hotel Louisville Downtown, Kentucky, LEED Certified
Cambria Hotel Louisville Downtown, Whiskey Row, Kentucky, LEED Silver
Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Center, Oklahoma, LEED Silver
FedEx Freight—Harrison General Office, Arkansas, LEED Silver
Helen of Troy Tennessee DC, Tennessee, LEED Silver
KC-46A Two-Bay Depot Maintenance Hangar, Oklahoma, LEED Silver
Kentucky International Convention Center renovation and expansion, Kentucky, LEED Silver
Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Commission, Louisiana, LEED Silver
Nashville International Airport Administration building and terminal garage, Tennessee, LEED Gold
New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Louisiana, LEED Gold
WKU: Ogden College Hall, Kentucky, LEED Gold
University of Kentucky Gatton Student Center, Kentucky, LEED Silver

All nominees are eligible for the USGBC South Central region’s People's Choice Award. Cast your vote.

Fall events

All the finalists will be recognized and winners announced at events throughout the region this fall. These events will bring together professionals, thought leaders and change makers from across the region to celebrate the exceptional projects and individuals shaping our industry. Each event will include a keynote presentation, a thought leadership panel, an awards ceremony and a networking reception. Proceeds from these events support USGBC's local education, advocacy and outreach efforts.

Events include:

USGBC Louisiana will host the FORWARD conference on Oct. 26 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event is designed to bring Louisiana’s diverse green industry professionals together to propel sustainability conversations forward. This year's theme is "The Journey to Sustainability: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow."
USGBC Arkansas and USGBC Oklahoma will host a tour, education session and celebration on Nov. 2 at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. This event will connect practitioners with students and faculty to examine buildings, policy and campus operations. There will also be a USGBC update and town hall before the awards reception and networking event. The education session and tour portion of the day will count as continuing education units (CEUs).
USGBC Kentucky and USGBC Tennessee will host IMPACT Tennessee on Nov. 2 in Nashville, Tennessee. The event will include a keynote from Beth Lavelle, senior associate and sustainability manager at SERA  Architects in Portland, Oregon. The keynote presentation is titled "From Concept to Reality: Implementing Integrated Design in Practice" and will include GBCI CEUs.

Sponsorship opportunities are available that align your company with these prestigious awards and events. Contact Rebecca Duffy to discuss ways to highlight your organization’s commitment to sustainability in our built environment.

Vote for the winner of the People's Choice Award

Announcing the LEED project award finalists for USGBC's South Central region