Turner Construction Company Project Wins Environmental Excellence Award

Sept. 12, 2011 - PRLog -- DALLAS –The City of Plano’s Environmental Education Center (EEC), a Turner Construction Company project, won a 2011 CLIDE (Celebrating Leadership in Development Excellence) Award from The North Central Texas Council of Governments. The city was honored at the council’s annual general assembly on June 17 for its contribution to sustainable construction. The framed award was presented at the July 25, 2011 City Council meeting. Working in conjunction with Gary Olp of GGO Architects, Turner Construction Company was the construction manager for the project.

“We are so honored to have the EEC recognized as a leader in sustainability,” said Nancy Nevil, director of sustainability and environmental services for the City of Plano. “This project has been in the works for a long time, and with Turner’s construction management expertise and Gary’s incredible vision, we were finally able to make our idea a reality.”

The vision for the EEC was initiated ten years ago. Utilizing many advanced design features, the project promotes green-building sustainable design and practices while providing increased participation in environmental educational programming and activities.  In addition, the EEC demonstrates the use of recycled or reused materials and helps contribute to improved air quality.

The EEC sits on three acres of property containing a natural waterway, small open field and small woodlot, offering a green space and slice of the natural world within an urban/suburban setting for community members. It serves the community as a model for energy efficiency and leadership in sustainable design, as underscored by its LEED Platinum application.

“The completion of the EEC positions the City of Plano as a leader in environmental sustainability,” said Omair Fayyaz, senior project manager at Turner. “We’re proud of this project, not only because it helps out the city, but because it also improves the quality of life for the entire North Texas community.”

Four nationally recognized judges deliberated and chose the distinguished awardees based on environmental stewardship, quality places, efficient mobility options, resource efficiency and educational opportunity. The EEC was one of four projects taking top honors in the “Raising Public Awareness” category.

The CLIDE Awards Program was created in 2003 to encourage innovative development projects and practices that will help accommodate expected growth and ensure a sustainable North Texas for generations to come.

About Turner:
Founded in 1902, Turner is the leading general builder in the U.S., with Texas regional offices in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Turner ranks first or second in the major segments of the building construction field, and specializes in general construction, construction management, design-build, green building and Building Information Modeling (BIM).  During 2009, Turner completed $7.8 billion of construction worldwide, with more than $400 million in Texas. For more information, visit Turner's website at www.turnerconstruction.com.

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