The Henrico County Center for Environmental Science and Sustainability in Henrico, Virginia, received an Award of Excellence in analysis and planning for its innovative, ecology-driven approach to education and site design. Conceived as a resilient, net-positive landscape, the project is designed to immerse students in nature while making ecological systems visible and accessible. The campus organizes learning around mapped habitats, hydrology strategies, and outdoor educational experiences, encouraging daily engagement with the landscape.
Envisioned as the world’s first public school facility to achieve Living Building Challenge certification, the project incorporates habitat restoration, an educational orchard, more than a mile of trails, and renewable energy strategies designed to generate 105% of the facility’s annual energy needs. The vernacular-inspired landscape acknowledges Indigenous stewardship of the James River watershed and the legacy of enslaved people who tended the land, while shaping the next generation of environmental stewards.
The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital Roof Gardens earned a Merit Award in general design for creating restorative outdoor environments that extend the hospital’s mission of care. Developed through close collaboration with hospital staff, the green roofs support caregiving goals and daily operations, serving as extensions of care while fostering play, rest, and connection for patients, families, and staff in a dense urban setting. The Child Life Terrace supports active play, creative programming, and quiet reflection zones; the Dining Terrace offers flexible social space with harbor views; and the Staff Terrace provides a dedicated retreat for respite and renewal.
Inspired by Charleston’s landscapes and garden traditions, the design incorporates durable, native plantings and regionally expressive materials, including precast concrete, wood, rubber surfacing, and locally sourced driftwood. Beyond supporting patient and staff well-being, the green roofs also contribute environmental benefits through stormwater management and reduced heat gain, demonstrating the powerful role nature-integrated design can play in enhancing healing, wellness, and human experience in healthcare.
