A total of 18 first-place winners and 31 merit recipients were honored during the event in mid-September before 800 community leaders at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale. A record total of 150 entries in more than 20 categories was considered for the awards that set standards for achieving a balance between the built and natural environments in the region's physical, technical, social and aesthetic development.

The $23-million, three-story, 63,000-square-foot GCC Life Sciences building was entered by its architectural firm, Gould Evans Associates of Phoenix, in the category of Buildings & Structures/ Public Assembly. The facility, which opened in January, provides much-needed state-of-the-art laboratory and classrooms for science and nursing instruction. It features copper-alloy siding and roofing, is energy efficient, green friendly and promotes sustainability.

Also earning an Award of Merit in the same category was the City of Phoenix/ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Winning the category was the ASU Polytechnic Academic Complex.

"Being a finalist places the Maricopa Community College District and GCC in great company," said Charles Jeffery, dean of Institutional Planning. "Awards recognition is not Maricopa's or GCC's primary focus – building great teaching venues is! In short, we succeeded on multiple levels."

In past EEA competitions, GCC has received an Award of Merit for its Physical Science building and the first-place Crescordia Award for the Library Media Center.

Valley Forward is celebrating 40th anniversary year as an association that brings business and civic leaders together to convene thoughtful public dialogue on regional issues and improve the environment and livability of Valley communities.