Highlighted Green Projects

McDowell Sonoran Preserve Trailhead Earns Top Design Award

Recognized for its sustainable design and sensitivity to the desert habitat within the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Scottsdale’s Lost Dog Wash Trailhead was recently awarded the top Honor Award by the American Institute of Architects, Western Mountain Region. 

The trailhead’s building and parking area have been designed to blend in with the surrounding desert preserve and incorporate green building techniques. These include photovoltaic cells that provide electricity, and grey water and rainwater harvesting that produce nearly 75,000 gallons of water annually for landscape irrigation. In addition, special attention has been paid to salvage and relocate native vegetation to other areas of disturbance within the preserve.

“This award is a great example of Scottsdale’s continuing efforts to set the standard for green, sustainable buildings,” said former Mayor Mary Manross. “It’s particularly fitting that an entrance to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve demonstrates the city’s deep commitment to buildings that are sensitive to the environment.”

Earlier this summer, the city also received an award for the South Areas Trails Map of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve from the Arizona Geographic Information Council in the cartographic design category.

Since 1994, nearly 15,000 acres of the McDowell Mountains and Sonoran Desert have been preserved in Scottsdale. The AIA Western Mountain Region awards program covers a six-state region including Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and Wyoming.

The Lost Dog Wash Trailhead was one of three projects earning the Honor Award among 256 projects submitted.

Green Civic Buildings

• Scottsdale Fire Station #1  (PDF)
• Scottsdale Fire Station #2  (PDF)
• Scottsdale Fire Station #8  (PDF)
• Airport Operations Center
• Appaloosa Library
• Arabian Library
• Brown's Ranch Trailhead Building  (PDF)
• Gateway Trailhead Building  (PDF)
• Lost Dog Wash Trailhead Building  (PDF)
• McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park Model Railroad Building
• Scottsdale Museum of the West

Green Multi-Family Projects 

The following multifamily projects have been designed in accordance with Scottsdale’s Green Building Program standards for reduced energy use, water savings, improved comfort and healthy interiors. Each project achieves a minimum 40% energy use reduction (2012 energy code baseline) and minimum 20% indoor water use reduction.

Crescent Scottsdale Quarter	Equinox
Envy Residences	The Tomscot Scottsdale
Optima Sonoran Village	MZ Living Townhomes
Optima Camelview Village (PDF)

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