USGBC North Texas hosts Green Gala awards • Call for public art proposals that use recycled material • Course aims to boost sales of urban farmers 

By Julie Thibodeaux

GREEN STANDARD

The U.S. Green Building Council’s North Texas chapter held its first major award ceremony last month. The inaugural Green Gala and Awards was held March 28 at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. Judging was done by three LEED certified building professionals from Houston, Tulsa and New Orleans. Awards were given to the following: 

The Green Infrastructure Project of the Year was the SMART Project, The University of North Texas. 

The Renewable Energy Project of the Year was Apogee Stadium at the University of North Texas, HKS. 

The Non-LEED Green Project of the Year was awarded to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science - Good Fulton & Farrell (Green Globes Certified). 

The Private LEED Project of the Year was Energy Square, Lord Green Strategies and Lincoln Property Company (LEED Gold certification). 

The Public LEED Project of the Year  went to the Plano Environmental Education Center - GGO Architects and the City of Plano (LEED Platinum certification).

The Residential (Single Family/Multi-Family) LEED Project of the Year was awarded to Gables Park Apartments, Good Fulton and Farrell (LEED Gold certified) 

The K-12 Green School of the Year was Ladybird Johnson Middle School - Corgan Associates

The Higher Education Green School of the Year was given to the Physical Performance Center, Texas Christian University (LEED Gold certified) 

In addition, Bell Helicopter received the Green Business of the Year award. USGBC Chapter volunteers Diane Tasian and Rachael Green were given the Chapter Green Hero Award. And Kirk Teske received the Chapter Green Steward Award for Individual Leadership.

See http://www.northtexasgreencouncil.org

PHOTOS: Apogee Stadium, courtesy of USGBC; Environmental Education Center in Plano, courtesy of the city of Plano; TCU Physical Performance Center, courtesy of USGBC. 

SPARE ART

Calling all artists with a green bent. The Fort Worth Avenue Development Group announced it’s accepting designs for its Spare Parts Public Art Initiative. The west Dallas neighborhood group, whose purpose is developing the West Commerce/Fort Worth Avenue corridor, is looking for site specific art that has a functional use, such as providing bike parking, shade, seating or lighting, to encourage pedestrian activity. The works must also be made from recycled or repurposed material. The piece will be placed on private property fronting Dallas West Mobile Home/RV Park on W. Commerce St.

The first completed Spare Parts installation, Mobius Bench by Erik Glissman and Nicole Cullum Horn, has already been installed at the corner of Pittman and Fort Worth Ave. A reception and christening will be held Aug. 27 at 7pm. 

Proposals are due April 19. See submission guidelines: http://oakcliff.bubblelife.com/community/fort_worth_avenue/library/3560160/key/35624973/SPARE_PARTS_PROPOSAL

PHOTO: Mobius Bench. Courtesy of the Fort Worth Avenue Development Group

GROWER STRATEGIES

Are you an urban farmer who’d like to sell to restaurants and grocery stores or just boost sales? The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension is hosting a class geared to local farmers, “The Market Ready Training for Urban Farmers.” The all-day class will be held April 24 at Tarrant County Plaza Building, 200 Taylor Street in Fort Worth from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Instructor Laura Miller says the course is designed to help those who are already producing and selling their produce but want to expand their clientele. Tips will be provided on a variety of issues including packaging, labeling, pricing and marketing. According to Miller, the department has received an increased number of calls from small growers as the “eat local” food movement has grown. 

“There’s definitly more demand for locally grown produce than supply,” said Miller. “As long as that situation exists I think more people will get into it.”

Cost is $35. Fee covers training materials and box lunch. For course info: Laura Miller, lmmiller@ag.tamu.edu or 817-884-1945. See https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/events/details.cfm?id=1257

Sign up for the weekly Green Source DFW Newsletter to stay up to date on everything green in North Texas, the latest news and events.

Julie Thibodeaux covers environmental issues, green topics and sustainable living for Green Source DFW. Previously, she worked as an editor and writer at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Send your green bulletin items to Julie@greensourcedfw.org   Follow us at Facebook/GreenSourceDFW.com