
Solar One is extremely proud to announce that we have been awarded the prestigious Holcim Gold 2008 North America Award (pictured) for Solar 2, the net-zero energy use building that will be constructed on the Solar One blacktop starting in 2009. Along with the trophy, there is a $100K prize. Projects with a high expectation of completion are especially valued in the competition, and Solar 2 was praised as “bringing the eco-building vision into reality”.
The awards are given by the Swiss-based Holcim Foundation to projects in 5 regions of the world. The top projects are automatically selected for the Holcim International Award, with the winner to be announced in Lucerne, Switzerland in May 2009. The winner of the International Gold Award is also awarded a cash prize of $650K.
Solar One Executive Director Chris Collins accepted the award Thursday night in Montreal, along with architect Colin Cathcart of Kiss+Cathcart and Nigel Nicholls of engineering firm Arup, thanking the Holcim Foundation for their support of the Solar 2 project. “We are excited to have received this prestigious international award,” said Chris Collins. “It recognizes the need for a building like Solar 2, particularly in NYC, where buildings account for 79% of CO2 emissions.”