2026 Groundbreaker Awards & Celebrating Green Building United’s 25th Anniversary

Celebrate 25 Years of Impact at the Groundbreaker Awards

Join Green Building United at the Cira Centre for an inspiring evening celebrating the people, projects, and partnerships advancing sustainability across our region.

Each year, the Groundbreaker Awards spotlight the achievements of developers, designers, advocates, and community leaders who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in high-performance building and sustainable development. Honorees represent a powerful mix of innovation, environmental stewardship, and positive social and economic impact.

This year’s event marks 25 years of Green Building United, and we look forward to honoring the members, partners, and champions who have helped shape our work while looking ahead to the next 25 years of green building.

Connect with the people behind this year’s nominated projects, explore emerging trends and developments, and celebrate the growing momentum for healthier, more resilient, and more equitable communities!

About the Award Categories

The Groundbreaker Awards recognize leadership and innovation across the built environment:

• Equity & Community Leadership: Recognizing individuals and organizations advancing sustainability through equity, environmental justice, workforce development, and community-centered solutions.
• Sustainable Design & Planning: Celebrating visionary projects in the design or planning phase that integrate sustainability, resilience, and long-term environmental impact.
• Sustainable New Development & Major Renovation: Honoring recently completed projects that demonstrate excellence in sustainable design, construction, renovation, and building performance.
• Residential and Mixed-Use Development: Recognizing residential and mixed-use projects that advance sustainable living through high-performance design, energy efficiency, healthy spaces, and community connection.
• Civic and K-12 School Development: Celebrating civic and educational facilities that serve their communities through sustainable design, high-performance building strategies, healthy learning environments, and long-term resilience.

Congratulations to all of this year’s nominees. To learn more about the inspiring projects, organizations, and leaders recognized in each category, visit our 2026 Groundbreaker Awards Nominees announcement and read more about the impact they’re making across the region.

Who Should Attend?

Architects, engineers, developers, contractors, building owners, sustainability professionals, policymakers, students, advocates, and community leaders committed to creating a more sustainable and resilient built environment.

Ticket Pricing

• Non-Member: $275 Early Bird ($325)
• Member: $150 Early Bird ($200)
• Student, Government & Nonprofit: $120 Early Bird ($150)

VIP Tour & Happy Hour

Cira Centre: 20 Years of Innovation and Transformation

Upgrade your evening with an exclusive VIP tour of the iconic Cira Centre. Join us for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Cira Centre as we celebrate two decades of innovation, adaptability, and growth. We will explore the building’s evolution from a premier office tower into a dynamic mixed-use environment that supports the region’s growing life sciences ecosystem. Participants will visit B+labs, Brandywine’s state-of-the-art laboratory incubator created through the conversion of former office floors, and learn how the project was conceived, designed, and executed to meet the changing demands of today’s tenants. Along the way, attendees will gain insight into building operations, sustainability initiatives, tenant experience strategies, and the role flexible real estate solutions play in supporting innovation and long-term asset value in a rapidly evolving market.

Pending approval for 1.0 AIA LU|HSW and 1.0 GBCI CE Hour. LEED-specific credential maintenance credit is currently under review.

The VIP experience includes an exclusive networking happy hour, offering a unique opportunity to connect with industry leaders, award nominees, project teams, sponsors, and fellow sustainability professionals.

VIP access is available for a $75 donation add-on to event registration and is included with select sponsorship packages. Spots are limited!

Event Agenda

Bridge

Sponsorship & Anniversary Giving Options

Celebrate 25 Years. Invest in the Next 25.

Sponsorship provides valuable visibility at a key juncture in the organization’s history among the region’s leading developers, designers, engineers, contractors, building owners, policymakers, and community advocates.

Packages include event tickets with VIP access for your team and guests, sponsorship recognition, and more.

Contact us for more information about available sponsorships.