On Thursday, April 21, the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia (SBN) hosted the 6th Annual Excellence in GSI Awards at FringeArts and La Peg – its first in-person awards ceremony in over two years.
The ceremony included close to 100 of the region’s industry leaders and partners, decision-makers, and stakeholders. SBN’s Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) Partners honored exemplary projects and the people behind them that bring the environmental, social, and economic benefits of green stormwater infrastructure to life in Philadelphia and the region. Awards were given to Public Projects and Private Projects categories, and a GSI Champion Award given to an individual or organization that has worked tirelessly to advance our region’s green stormwater infrastructure industry.
Devi Ramkissoon, SBN’s Executive Director, opened the program applauding the region’s partners and leaders and their commitment to advancing GSI in the region despite the challenges of the global pandemic and supply and labor disruptions while recognizing its growth over the last ten years.
“The growth of the GSI industry has been instrumental in Philadelphia surpassing its 10-year pollution reduction goal that has kept nearly three billion gallons of stormwater runoff and sewer overflow out of local waterways. People in our region like you all in the room tonight are leading the way, not only in our city and country but also around the world, in affecting real economic and environmental change through the use of GSI.”
– Devi Ramkissoon, Executive Director for the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia (SBN)
Stuart Clarke, Program Director of Watershed Protection with the William Penn Foundation, delivered a passionate keynote address that emphasized the role of green stormwater infrastructure projects in mitigating climate change and the need to invest in them.
“Our local waterways are important, and we must do everything possible to protect and preserve them. We know that green stormwater infrastructure can combat the effects of climate change – and your work, your projects make doing so possible.”
– Stuart Clarke, Program Director of Watershed Protection, William Penn Foundation
Councilmember-At-Large Katherine Gilmore Richardson accepted the GSI Champion Award, an acknowledgment of her work to advance green stormwater solutions to address pollution and promote climate resilience, and the creation of family-sustaining green jobs.
“I’m so honored to be recognized as this year’s GSI Champion! The GSI Awards showcase the innovation, creativity, and collaboration that have led to a thriving local green stormwater industry, supporting local businesses, creating family-supporting and sustaining careers, and improving community resiliency. These are the types of industries we must be investing in as we look to grow our local economy and protect our residents from the impacts of climate change.”
– Katherine Gilmore Richardson, Philadelphia City Councilmember-At-Large
Winners of the 6th Annual Excellence in GSI Awards
Public Projects: American Street Improvement Project
- Client: Philadelphia Water Department and Philadelphia Department of Streets
- Planning/Design Team: Gilmore & Associates, Inc., Johnson, Mirmiran, & Thompson (JMT),
- KMJ Consulting, Inc.
- Watershed: Delaware Direct South
- Construction/Maintenance: Tony DePaul & Son, Malick & Scherer, P.C.
- Location: N. American Street (W. Girard Avenue –West Indiana Avenue), Philadelphia, PA, 19122, 19133
Private Projects: Holmesburg Baptist Church and Christian Academy (HBC) Green Stormwater Infrastructure Project
- Client: Holmesburg Baptist Church and Christian Academy
- Planning/Design Team: The Nature Conservancy, AKRF
- Watershed: Pennypack Creek
- Construction/Maintenance: Brandywine Stormwater, LLC, Holmesburg Baptist Church and Christian Academy
- Location: 7927 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA, 19136
GSI Champion Recipient: Katherine Gilmore Richardson, Philadelphia City Councilmember-At-Large
See below photos from the event! All photos were captured by Albert Yee Photography.