The 2025 Groundbreaker Awards are almost here and we’re thrilled to announce this year’s nominees! From community leadership to cutting-edge sustainable design, these nominees are raising the bar for resilience in our region.
Below, you’ll find nominees organized by category. Click each section to learn more about the work each project is being recognized for! With so many strong submissions, our Sustainable New Development or Major Renovation category is split into three subcategories: New Construction, Renovation/Expansion, and Residential/Mixed-Use. Check out this blog post to dive into the award categories.
Join us in celebrating these changemakers at 3.0 University Place this fall! Don’t forget: early bird tickets are available through September 19, and we’re still welcoming sponsors who want to be part of this unforgettable evening.
Rebuild Philadelphia
Rebuild Philadelphia is a major initiative transforming the city’s parks, recreation centers, and libraries with a focus on equitable public space and environmental justice. Funded by the Philadelphia Beverage Tax and the William Penn Foundation, the program addresses years of neglect by prioritizing community input and investing in green infrastructure. This project also promotes economic empowerment by supporting workforce development, awarding contracts to local and diverse businesses, and concentrating investment in moderate-to-high poverty neighborhoods.
Bennett Street Redevelopment
With funding from Energize Delaware, project partners Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County (HFHNCC), Todmorden East, LLC, and New Ecology, Inc. are delivering all-electric, energy-efficient homes in Wilmington’s historic Eastside neighborhood. These homes, some achieving a remarkable HERS score of 33, are designed to be affordable for low-income residents, costing less than $100 per month to operate. By exceeding ENERGY STAR and Zero Energy Ready Homes standards, this project reduces the financial burden on residents and addresses the root causes of inequity through sustainable, long-lasting community investment.
Kensington Corridor Trust [el]evated Stoop Project
The Kensington Corridor Trust’s [el]evated Stoop Project is a community-driven initiative that transforms a neighborhood garden into a two-story public art and green space. The project, conceived by artist Jordan Weber, creates a flexible, self-governing health hub that includes a basketball court and native pollinator gardens. This effort focuses on using sustainable materials and community engagement to address environmental injustice and foster a safe, resilient space for Kensington residents.
University of Pennsylvania Vagelos Laboratory for Energy
The Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology (VLEST) at the University of Pennsylvania is a LEED Platinum certified research facility. By integrating advanced passive and active energy systems, such as dynamic sunshades and an innovative heat recovery system, the building achieves a 63% energy use savings. VLEST also transforms a former parking lot into a vibrant campus hub with green infrastructure, public spaces, and state-of-the-art laboratories.
Silverstein Properties – 1735 Market Street
In 2020, 1735 Market Street initiated a major energy efficiency project following an ASHRAE Level II energy audit. The building implemented several high-impact retro-commissioning measures, including a building-wide conversion to LED lighting and the optimization of HVAC systems. These changes significantly improved the building’s performance, reduced energy consumption, and promoted long-term sustainability.
Redeemer Village
Completed in March 2024, the Redeemer Village project transformed affordable senior housing by installing a massive 1,173.6 kW solar array and implementing deep energy efficiency upgrades. The solar array is currently producing more than 42% higher than its modeled output, putting the property on track to achieve net-zero energy performance. This project exemplifies how sustainable development can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower utility costs for residents, and serve as a replicable model for community-scale sustainability.an create high-performing, low-impact buildings that are easier and more cost-effective to operate, all while improving quality of life for their occupants.
Passyunk Wash Plant
Eco Materials is a new company focused on providing a sustainable and financially responsible alternative for construction waste disposal. Their Passyunk Wash Plant will use an environmentally friendly wet process to clean and sort construction waste, reclaiming over 85% of materials like soil and stone for reuse in new products. This innovative facility will divert 700,000 tons of waste from landfills annually, helping to conserve natural resources and reduce the environmental impact of the construction industry.
2000 Arch Street
Located in Center City Philadelphia, 2000 Arch Street is a new 18-story commercial office building targeting LEED Platinum certification. The project is incorporating innovative sustainable strategies, including 3D computer simulations and tracking greenhouse gas emissions during construction. The building, which is set to become the headquarters for CHUBB Insurance, aims to transform the local real estate market while promoting occupant health and environmental stewardship.
Floating Water Workshop
The Floating Water Workshop is a new public park and learning laboratory that will be moored on the Delaware River at Penn’s Landing. This unique floating platform will showcase watershed management practices and provide hands-on activities to educate people of all ages about water science. The Workshop will move from the Delaware to the Schuylkill River in the future to emphasize the interconnectedness of Philadelphia’s waterways.
Radnor Township South Devon and South Wayne Flood
In 2024, Radnor Township completed two major, multimillion-dollar green stormwater infrastructure projects to reduce flooding and improve water quality. The South Devon project transformed a flood-prone area into a wooded wetland park, while the South Wayne project mitigated urban flooding in downtown Wayne. Both projects successfully integrated flood reduction with the creation of enhanced public spaces and amenities for the community.
Brandywine Radnor Life Sciences Center South
The Brandywine Radnor Life Sciences Center South is a mixed-use campus that serves as the area’s first new workspace development in almost 30 years. It features a state-of-the-art ambulatory care center, a new headquarters for Arkema North America, and a hotel currently under construction. Phase I of the project, which earned LEED Gold certification, was designed with resilient stormwater measures and native plantings to restore the site’s ecological health.
Health Science Technology Building
Completed in 2022, the Health, Science, and Technology building is a 190,000-square-foot facility on Lehigh’s campus that provides modern research and teaching space for the university’s College of Health. The building earned both LEED Gold and Fitwel Three Star certifications due to its sustainable features, which include a rainwater reclamation system, energy-conserving chilled beams, and a green roof.
3151 Market Street
3151 Market is Philadelphia’s next-generation innovation building, meticulously designed with sustainability at its core, featuring state-of-the-art lab and office space, premier amenities, and a prime location at the center of the region’s flourishing life science and tech ecosystem.With substantially higher base building technology and infrastructure than market standard, companies gain ultimate flexibility and save cost, time, resources — allowing you to focus on what matters most in moving your mission forward. 3151 Market Street is 12 stories and 225ft tall, and 417,000 RSF
One uCity Square
One uCity Square is a 13-story, 490,000-square-foot commercial laboratory and office tower that serves as an anchor for Philadelphia’s growing innovation district. Originally targeting LEED Silver, the building successfully achieved LEED Gold certification under the v4 BD+C: Core and Shell rating system. The project features a public-use plaza and green roofs, and is designed for flexibility and collaboration with large floor plates and terrace winter gardens.
North Operations Center
Completed in 2023, the Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) North Operations Center is a new 247,000-square-foot facility designed to consolidate operations, save up to $100 million over 25 years, and reduce the carbon footprint of the buildings it replaces by up to 50%. The center features an energy recovery ventilation unit, thermal stratification fans, and LED lighting to improve efficiency and reduce costs. With LEED certification in progress, the facility is a key part of PGW’s commitment to building a cleaner, greener Philadelphia.
Mt. Cuba Center Head House and Greenhouse
For over two decades, Mt. Cuba Center has been a botanical garden dedicated to native plants. To support its expanding research and public education, the center embarked on a project to replace its greenhouses and staff workspaces, with a goal of achieving Net Zero Energy. The new building features a geothermal system, a rainwater collection system for irrigation, and an extensive photovoltaic array to offset energy use.
3.0 University Place
3.0 University Place is an eight-story commercial office and life sciences building that has achieved both LEED and WELL Platinum certifications. It is the first WELL Platinum project in Philadelphia and the first double-certified lab building in the U.S. The building incorporates numerous sustainable features, including a high-performance energy system, a 14,000-square-foot vegetated roof, and other biophilic design elements to promote occupant well-being.
ATAS International’s Grant Way Manufacturing Facility
ATAS International has completed a 53,000-square-foot expansion of its manufacturing facility in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to support its growing product line. The expansion, completed in May 2025, adds to the existing building’s energy-efficient features, including a solar array and transpired solar collector wall panels. These InSpire panels are expected to save the company over $9,000 in annual energy costs by using solar power to heat air for the building’s ventilation system.
Lehigh Valley International Airport Security Checkpoint
Lehigh Valley International Airport completed a new 25,000-square-foot security checkpoint in 2023 to improve passenger flow and increase capacity. In May 2025, the project earned LEED Gold certification for its sustainable features, which include electric vehicle charging stations, a 38% reduction in indoor water use, and a high-performance building envelope. The new facility also achieved a 27% energy cost savings compared to typical buildings, thanks to its efficient heating and cooling systems, and optimized lighting controls.
The Sheward Partnership Philadelphia Office Headquarters
The Sheward Partnership (TSP) has relocated its Philadelphia headquarters to a new 9,150-square-foot office, designed to showcase the highest standards of sustainable design. The space has achieved both LEED and WELL Platinum certifications, making it the first fit-out in Philadelphia to do so. This living laboratory project was a collaborative effort, focusing on occupant well-being, energy efficiency, and careful material selection to push the boundaries of sustainable office design.
CertainTeed Malvern Sustainable Innovation Center
CertainTeed, the North American branch of Saint-Gobain, recently renovated its Malvern Innovation building to create a modern and sustainable workspace for its scientists. The project, which aimed to match the high standards of the company’s LEED-Platinum headquarters, earned both Living Building Challenge Core Ready Designation and LEED ID+C Platinum certification. The renovation incorporated many of CertainTeed’s own products and focused on creating a vibrant, flexible, and healthy environment that exceeded the sustainability achievements of the headquarters.
All-School Commons
Germantown Friends School, a Quaker independent day school, is expanding its campus with a new All-School Commons facility. As the first project to emerge from the school’s master plan, the 40,000-square-foot facility revitalizes existing buildings rather than replacing them, reflecting the school’s commitment to Quaker values of simplicity and stewardship. The Commons will serve as the “Heart” of the campus, fostering interdisciplinary learning and community-building while enhancing the school’s connection to the surrounding Germantown neighborhood.
Old First House
Old First House is a new mixed-use building in Old City, Philadelphia, that provides 34 permanent supportive housing units for formerly homeless individuals. A partnership between Community Ventures, Old First Reformed UCC, and Depaul USA, the project incorporates sustainability features like a 27.5 kW solar array to reduce operating costs. The development also received certifications from Zero Energy Ready Homes, Indoor Air Plus, Energy Star, and Enterprise Green Communities.
Passive House at Hamilton at Eagleview
Hamilton at Eagleview in Exton, Pennsylvania, offers the state’s first fully market-rate Passive House multifamily property, which is currently pursuing Phius+ZERO certification. This luxury apartment complex combines sustainability with comfort by using advanced insulation and energy recovery systems to create a highly efficient, eco-friendly living experience. Additionally, a solar array on the roof and parking shade structures offsets the building’s energy consumption, qualifying it for Phius+ZERO status.