Venice Island Wins ULI Rouse Award for Excellence
published June 16, 2016
ULI Philadelphia announced eight winners in the 3rd Annual Willard G. “Bill” Rouse III Awards for Excellence, including the Venice Island Transformation. ULI named the collaborative project one of 15 finalists in May.
The jury cited it as “an excellent collaboration by city staff and focused outside professionals.”
The project transformed Venice Island from a flood-prone, semi-abandoned site into the centerpiece of a cultural revitalization in Philadelphia’s Manayunk neighborhood. BKP designed the Venice Island Performing Arts and Recreation Center part of the project. Hazen and Sawyer designed infrastructure improvements, including sophisticated stormwater management and a four-million-gallon underground water storage tank and pumping station to alleviate flooding. Andropogon collaborated with Hazen and Sawyer, BKP, the Manayunk Development Corporation, and Philadelphia Water Department on master planning the five-acre site. Last year, the Delaware Valley Green Building Council honored the project and team with a Groundbreaker Award for the project’s commitment to sustainability.
The ULI Rouse Awards recognize outstanding and transformational land use developments, best practices, and creative visioning. Awards are named for ULI founder and civic leader, the late Bill Rouse. Award criteria goes beyond good design to honor responsible land use and creating and sustaining thriving communities.
