The Sustainable Buildings Industry Council conducted its 2004 awards ceremony at its annual FORUM event, titled "Cents and Sustainability: The Ripple Effects of Integrated Design." The event took place in October, at the American Institute of Architects headquarters in Washington. Deane Evans, vice chair of SBIC and director of the New Jersey Institute of Technology's Center for Architecture and Building Science Research, hosted the awards ceremony.

This year, the council gave awards in two categories. The "Best Sustainable Practice" Award recognizes the exceptional contributions SBIC members are making to sustainability across the United States. The 2004 "Best Sustainable Practice" Awards were open to all SBIC members. The 2004 "Exemplary Sustainable Building Award"-a new addition to the Awards Program this year-recognizes institutional, residential, and government buildings that demonstrate the successful application of the whole building design approach. This year's focus is on the integration of sustainability and cost-effectiveness. All building design professionals, including SBIC members and nonmembers, were eligible to compete in this category. Each project recognized under this category provides lessons to learn from, fostering the movement towards more sustainable buildings.

Walls & Ceilings' sister publication Environmental Design + Construction was awarded "Special Achievement in Communications."

"As a result of our high-quality editorial coverage, research and community outreach, ED+C is honored to win this prestigious award," said the magazine's Editor Michelle Clark Hucal. "We have worked very hard to not only publish a magazine about sustainable building, but we practice and promote environmental sensitivity, as well."