Resources - Building From The Best
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Kathy Borgen champions causes that help protect, care for, and nurture a love of our planet. She is also passionate about the work of the Institute
Where We Work Southwest Tucson - Building from the Best
Tucson - Building from the Best
Starting in 2001, the Sonoran Institute began recognizing Tucson’s best examples of community-friendly development through its Building from the Best awards. Building from the Best salutes the talent and expertise of developers, designers, architects and planners who are committed to quality and sustainability and contribute to the Institute’s vision of a West with healthy landscapes, resilient economies and vibrant communities.
The Institute's last recognition project was completed in 2008. Tucson’s Building from the Best project does the following:
- Engages the community in a discussion about development, its quality and its impact
- Works with architects, builders, developers and financing institutions to promote quality projects
- Trains citizens to be advocates for quality design and development
- Recommends policy measures to elected and appointed officials
- Celebrates examples of development that respect community character and the environment
News & Updates
2008 Best Projects Announced
In 2008, Sonoran Institute named seven design, development and building projects in Pima County as its Building from the Best award winners. The honors are presented biennially to celebrate and encourage projects that respect the natural environment and the character of the area’s communities.
Superior living and working environments, efficient uses of resources, and preservation of the Sonoran Desert’s natural and cultural heritage are among qualities the award categories recognize. Category winners represent a variety of business, public and private projects in Tucson and surrounding communities.
Stories
Smart, Innovative Designs Earn Kudos
Two things good for the environment happened in Tucson, Arizona, on the evening of March 11, 2006. First, in the midst of a multi-year drought, rain fell in the desert city for the first time in months. Second, enjoying every drop, nearly 500 people came to a downtown hotel ballroom for the Building from the Best awards ceremony. Full story in Spring 2006 WestWord Newsletter