Ruppert projects garner awards

LAYTONSVILLE, Md. – Six of Ruppert Landscape’s projects have been recognized for excellence by leaders in the green industry. The six award-winning projects include The Barbara Truland-Butz Healing Garden at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, Marine Corps Barracks Washington, The Mary Catherine Bunting Center at Mercy Medical Center, Square 80 Plaza at George Washington  University, T. Rowe Price Owings Mills Financial Center and Turnberry Tower. These project received awards from the Landscape Contractors Association (LCA) in their Excellence in Landscape competition, PLANET’s 42nd Annual Environmental Improvement Awards Program and Associated Builders and Contractors Metro Washington Chapter’s Excellence in Construction Awards Program.

The Barbara Truland-Butz Healing Garden at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital (Rockville, Md.) received a Grand Award from LCA, a Merit Award from PLANET and an Excellence in Construction Award from Associated Builders and Contractors of Metro Washington in both the commercial landscape contracting category and green roof category. This over-structure installation was unique in that it functions as both a healing garden and a green roof, incorporating over 30,000 sustainable plant materials that add both functionality and restorative elements to the greenscape.

The Marine Corps Barracks Washington (Washington) received a Heritage Award from LCA, in the commercial landscape management category. This award builds on having already received a Grand Award more than five years earlier and recognizes that the landscape contractor has maintained the project in award winning condition since that time. Located just blocks from the nation’s capital, it is the oldest active post in the Marine Corps and plays host to 75,000 guests during the summer parade months. Among the job’s unique challenges are its high visibility, high number of visitors and quick turnaround that is often requested to accommodate visiting dignitaries.

The Mary Catherine Bunting Center at Mercy Medical (Baltimore) received a Grand Award from LCA and a Merit Award from PLANET in the commercial landscape contracting category. This 18,500 sq. ft. project involved the installation of three eco-friendly rooftop meditation gardens and offered the benefits of sustainable design, including helping to absorb rainwater, providing insulation for the building to reduce the amount of energy needed to cool its interior, lowering urban air temperatures and combating the heat island effect.

Square 80 Plaza at George Washington University (Washington) received a Grand Award from LCA and a Merit Award from PLANET in the commercial landscape contracting category. Upon its redesign and completion, what was once a parking lot was converted in a multi-functional urban plaza which incorporated sustainable elements such as a biofiltration planters, underground cisterns, pervious paving, native plants, a rain barrel, rain gardens and a bioswale all of which assist with harvesting 100 percent of the on-site rainwater for irrigation, maintenance and other amenities.

T. Rowe Price Owings Mills Financial Center (Owings Mills, Md.) received a Grand Award from LCA and a Merit Award from PLANET in the commercial landscape contracting category. This project entailed the installation of erosion control measures, irrigation, turf, meadow grasses and landscaping including several thousand shrubs, over 13,000 grasses and perennials and 300 trees.

Turnberry Tower (Arlington, Va.) received a Grand Award from LCA and a Merit Award from PLANET in the commercial landscape contracting category. Access and storage space for this project were among the biggest challenges faced during the installation of this landscape. The building has LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council and is one of the premier residential spots in Northern Virginia.

All three awards programs are judged by leading landscape and construction industry professionals and recognize exceptional design, installation, and maintenance in both residential and commercial categories. Awards are given to landscaping professionals who execute superior projects and are committed to creating and preserving the beauty of the landscape. These programs strive to increase public awareness of environmental improvement and encourage the consistent use of quality materials and workmanship.