Innovation and leadership take centre stage at the 2025 CAGBC Awards

“The CAGBC Awards spotlight the innovators transforming Canada’s building industry,” says Thomas Mueller, CAGBC President and CEO. “This year’s winners exemplify extraordinary commitment and leadership pushing beyond industry limits to deliver the next generation of sustainable buildings in Canada.”

The CAGBC Awards were presented in two categories: Green Building Excellence, recognizing standout projects that demonstrate innovation and performance, and Green Building Leadership, honouring the individuals and teams leading Canada’s green building transition. CAGBC also presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to Jonathan Westeinde, CEO and founder of Windmill Development Group.

Winner: Nova Scotia Native Women’s Association Administration Office and Resiliency Centre
Location: Millbrook First Nation, NS

The Nova Scotia Native Women’s Association’s Resiliency Centre exemplifies the integration of sustainability, cultural expression, and community resilience. Designed by Solterre Design in collaboration with Indigenous leaders and artists, the facility blends Mi’kmaq knowledge with high-performance strategies to achieve certification under the Zero Carbon Building – Design Standard™ v3. Featuring a super-insulated envelope, high-efficiency heat pumps and energy recovery ventilator’s (ERV’s), as well as a 58-kW rooftop photovoltaic (PV) array, the building exceeds the National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB 2017) energy performance by 65 percent achieving Net Zero Operational Energy. Constructed with local, low-carbon materials and guided by the principle of Two-Eyed Seeing – which brings together Indigenous and Western ways of knowing – the Centre supports healing, education, and leadership while setting a new precedent for sustainable, culturally responsive architecture in Canada.

Winner: Fairmont Royal York Decarbonization
Location: Toronto, ON

Led by real estate investor KingSett Capital, the Fairmont Royal York’s deep carbon retrofit stands as the largest heritage hotel decarbonization project in North America, transforming a 96-year-old, 1.2 million square foot landmark into a model of low-carbon innovation. Completed while the hotel remained open and operational, the retrofit achieved Zero Carbon Building – Performance Standard™ certification through a full transition from steam to high-efficiency electric heat pumps and connection to Enwave’s Deep Lake Water Cooling system. The project cut annual GHG emissions by over 80 percent—equivalent to removing more than 1,500 cars from the road—and reduced utility costs by 35 percent. With smart automation, a high-performance envelope, and grid-friendly features like demand-response generators, the project demonstrates that even the most complex, historic buildings can meet modern energy and carbon performance goals.

Honourable Mention: 240 Markland Drive
Location: Toronto, ON

Carttera’s retrofit of a 1960s-era residential tower cut energy use in half and virtually eliminated operational carbon. Ground source heat pumps, high-performance envelope upgrades, and energy-saving features transformed the building into a resilient, low-carbon asset—demonstrating the potential of deep retrofits in aging multi-residential stock.

Sponsored by Morguard

Winner: Western University Ronald D. Schmeichel Building for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Location: London, ON

With Perkins&Will at the design helm, Western University’s Ronald D. Schmeichel Building for Entrepreneurship and Innovation showcases a bold vision for sustainable, inclusive campus development. Targeting LEED® Gold certification, the building features a high-performance envelope, geothermal heating and cooling, rooftop photovoltaics, and all-electric systems. Designed as a vibrant campus hub, it promotes interdisciplinary collaboration through flexible, accessible spaces and biophilic design. Water conservation, low-impact materials, and advanced stormwater management enhance its environmental performance. With a focus on wellness, innovation, and long-term resilience, the project sets a new standard for green institutional buildings in Canada’s post-secondary sector

Inspiring Home

Winner: L’Albédo and CPE La Petite Cour de Mistigri
Location: Québec, QC

Designed by Lafond Côté Architectes Engagés,  L’Albédo is an innovative 12-storey complex combining social housing and daycare, which combines high environmental performance and bold social inclusion. With 128 energy-efficient housing units – 30 of which are reserved for vulnerable populations – as well as a 148-space daycare, the project integrates a geothermal system, heat recovery from the largest ice sports centre in neighbouring America and a microgrid-ready electrical network. Offering universal accessibility, biophilic design and vast green spaces, it promotes well-being, intergenerational coexistence and urban resilience. Developed through an integrated and collaborative process, L’Albédo demonstrates how housing can promote equity, sustainability, and climate action — all in a high-performance community model.

Green Building Champion

Winner: Russell Horne
Organization: City of Kingston

Russell Horne has demonstrated exceptional leadership in municipal sustainability, advancing green building practices across more than 100 City of Kingston facilities. As Manager of Facilities Energy and Asset Management, he has embedded green building principles into policy, planning, and implementation—driving real change. His work includes a comprehensive building commissioning program, energy audits, a robust energy model library, energy retrofits, and the development of a citywide Facilities Net Zero Transition Plan. Through technical expertise and a commitment to innovation, Russell has elevated Kingston as a municipal leader in climate action, energy performance, and sustainable asset management aligned with CAGBC’s mission and values.

UWCRC 2.0 Inc., a not-for-profit real estate developer and housing provider, is mandated to develop wholly owned or joint-venture real estate projects and to deliver development, project management, and property management services to post-secondary institutions, non-profits, community-based organizations, and First Nations clients. The organization is redefining sustainable urban development by integrating social equity and climate leadership into every project. As Winnipeg’s largest core-area residential developer, UWCRC 2.0 has delivered over 570 rental units—nearly half of them affordable—while advancing net-zero carbon innovation. Flagship projects like 308 Colony and Market Lands are setting national precedents as Canada’s first high-rise and mid-rise residential buildings to be certified under CAGBC’s Zero Carbon Building – Design Standard. By aligning deeply with community needs and demonstrating replicable low-carbon strategies, UWCRC 2.0 is inspiring a new model of inclusive, high-performance housing that is adaptable, accessible, and ahead of its time.

Sponsored by DIALOG

Winner: Della Wang
Organization: Fengate Asset Management

Della Wang is a rising force in sustainable asset management, leading Fengate’s Responsible Investment strategy with a rare blend of financial acumen as a CPA and CBV and environmental insight. As Director of Responsible Investment, she’s led the development of Fengate’s sustainable design standards, launched a firm-wide due diligence program including standardized physical climate risk assessment, and produced Fengate’s first Sustainability Report. Beyond the firm, Della champions green building through roles with Real Property Association of Canada (REALPAC),  and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). Her leadership, influence, and advocacy are shaping more resilient, equitable communities—earning her recognition as a trusted voice on climate risk, nature-based solutions, and responsible investment across Canada’s real estate sector.

Winner: City of Kingston – Facilities Management & Construction Services
Location: Kingston, ON

The City of Kingston’s Facilities Management & Construction Services (FMCS) team is setting a new municipal standard for climate leadership. Its centralized management of over 160 municipal facilities that includes energy management, asset management, construction, commissioning, and maintenance has allowed the successful deployment of it Net Zero Transition Plan and the team has driven a 21 percent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per square foot since 2018. By integrating sustainability across all facility operations and collaborating with private partners on solar, EV, and efficiency projects, FMCS has advanced a replicable model for municipal decarbonization. Their work demonstrates how local governments can lead bold, systems-level change in support of Canada’s green building future.

Winner: Steve Kemp
Organization: RDH Building Science Inc.

Steve Kemp is one of Canada’s foremost experts in energy efficiency and carbon reduction, with decades of impact shaping high-performance buildings nationwide. A LEED Fellow and Principal at RDH Building Science, Steve brings deep technical expertise in low-carbon technologies—from geothermal and solar to thermal storage and energy recovery. Steve has dedicated over 17 years of volunteering with CAGBC’s Energy & Engineering Technical Advisory Group (TAG). His TAG work, combined with a period of volunteering on CAGBC LEED Canada Steering Committee, and other CAGBC committees, translates to roughly 1000 hours of volunteer time. As well, for over seven years, Steve has volunteered with the National Research Council (NRC) national codes committee, where he has helped guide Canada’s transition toward net-zero buildings. His leadership and dedication continue to advance the technical foundations of green building across the Canadian built environment.