Zeftron nylon announces the grand prize and runner-up winners for its 2012 Sustainable Practices Awards. RA-DA architecture and design firm in West Hollywood, California won the grand prize for its development of the new South Los Angeles Animal Care Center, and R. McGhee & Associates in Washington, D.C. was named as a runner-up for its work renovating two historic buildings that operate as headquarters of the Links Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization operated by professional women of color who serve the African-American community. Winners were selected for high-level implementation of sustainable practices and innovation throughout their respective projects.

“We commend RA-DA and R. McGhee & Associates for their work on these two projects and for helping create a more sustainable planet,” said Zeftron nylon Business Leader Timothy Blount. “We’ve long said that architects and designers are at the forefront of innovation and sustainability, and these two projects prove that.”

The South Los Angeles Animal Care Center is a new construction project slated for LEED Gold, and incorporates multiple sustainable strategies such as low-flow fixtures to reduce water usage, day-lighting systems to reduce energy use, and the use of recycled and low VOC-emitting materials. An indoor air quality management system was also developed to protect the building’s employees and animal inhabitants. As the grand prize winner, RA-DA selected the Los Angeles–based nonprofit TreePeople as the recipient of a $1,000 donation.

For the Links Foundation, R. McGhee & Associates was commissioned to modernize two adjacent historic buildings in Washington, D.C. In addition to those challenges, the design also had to adhere to strict historic preservation guidelines. The firm surprised the client’s LEED Silver goals by achieving LEED Gold Certification and reused 60 percent of the existing building with 91 percent of construction and demolition waste diverted from landfill space. A Sustainable Design Education program and a Green Housekeeping program were also developed to further the facility’s green goals.

More information about the 2012 Sustainable Practices Award is available at zeftronnylon.com.