George Bialecki Jr. takes green building seriously. As developer of age 55+ communities, environmentally responsible design saves his projects money and sells his energy-saving units more quickly. For example, PICP (permeable interlocking concrete pavers) saved thousands of dollars by eliminating conventional storm-water drainage at Autumn Trails, an independent living community with 32 homes located in Moline, IL, as shown in Fig. 1. The savings was so great that it made PICP cost-competitive with conventional asphalt and concrete pavements.

Aesthetics is what moved Westbank Projects Corporation to use approximately 350,000 ft² (3.2 ha) of PICP (permeable interlocking concrete pavers) at Marine Market Way (Fig. 1). The project, completed in Spring 2007, boasts nearly 100% occupancy. By combining parking and detention under the 1161-space parking lot, permeable pavement created a bit more rentable space and matched unique building entrances and light fixtures.

Awards and certifications

LEED Platinum
2007 Architectural Merit Award, Arizona Chapter of American Concrete Institute

Awards and certifications

LEED Platinum
Conserve Georgia Water Conservation Award

Centreville’s Bloomfield Farm, once home to a working farm, now includes Whitemarsh Park, an active recreation facility that houses many attractions for this Eastern Shore community in Maryland that is within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Surrounding the original nineteenth century homestead, Whitemarsh Park includes fields for soccer, lacrosse, and baseball; a driving range, and a fishing pond, among other points of interest. Located on nearly 300 acres (120 hectares) of pristine farmland, Whitemarsh Park is home to forest and meadows unique to Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Awards and certifications

PCA Sustainable Leadership Award (to the city of Leawood, KS, for the I’Lan Parking Lot)

Structure specifics

Awards and certifications

LEED Certified
International Parking Institute Award of Excellence
Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute Best Parking Structure

When tasked with building a new library that would accommodate a growing population and its need for a more technologically savvy and environmentally friendly space, the City of Highland, California, began examining a host of options. With the Highland Sam J. Racadio Library and Environmental Learning Center, named in honor of the former city manager, Sam J. Racadio who dedicated 18 years of service to the city, Highland officials constructed in a library that honored his memory and looked toward with the future of Highland.