The design for the new Council District 9 building servicing South Los Angeles took home the Sustainability Award in the New Building Category. One of the more significant features is the 8,000 square foot public roof garden, the first of the City of Los Angeles. Designed by Paul Murdoch Architects, the structure is meant to create a safe, open space for the community.

It’s no secret that we are currently living in though economic times, but the building industry seems to being facing greater challenges as investment and development of government and private infrastructure seems to wane with little recover. These awards by the LABC are testament to a city that is still finding a way to thrive in hard times, and their sustainable aspects goes to show that building green isn’t necessarily more expensive.

+ LABC Architecture Awards