Six buildings have been granted awards in the 2020 LosAngeles Better Buildings Challenge. The annualsustainability awards were held virtually due to the pandemic withnearly 200 people tuning in. Among the winners, Jonathan Rose Cos.won portfolio of the year; Kilroy Realty's Westside Media Centerwon for energy efficiency project of the year; Century Housing'sFlorence Avenue Villas won affordable housing project of the year;and Kaiser Permanente's Harbor Medical Center won for waterperformance of the year.

"At LABBC we say that innovation is not just abouttechnology—it's about people.  It's about people pushingboundaries, and finding new ways to drive continuous improvement,"David Hodgins, executive director of LABBC, tellsGlobeSt.com.  "A common thread between thisyear's Finalists was their ability to engage stakeholders and findwin-win solutions."

This year, LABBC added an affordable housing award categorybecause the asset class is in high demand and severelyundersupplied in Los Angeles. "Affordable Multifamily is a majorfocus for LABBC, and for the City," says Hodgins. "People shouldnot have to make trade-offs between paying their utility bills andfilling prescriptions, and owners of affordable multifamily housingoperate on razor thin margins.  We have to findcost-effective ways to reduce utility costs on bothsides.  These projects are great examples of how to dothat—our job is to spotlight them, and help other owners followtheir lead."