Perkiomen School Honored For Sustainability

PERKIOMEN, PA — Six projects across Montgomery County were awarded Wednesday for promoting environmental sustainability.

Each winner of the annual Montgomery Awards excelled in promoting sustainability in planning, design, or advocacy.

“For 50 years Montgomery County has recognized exceptional projects and the partnerships that create them," said Jody Holton, Executive Director of the MontgomeryCounty Planning Commission, in a statement. "These places and our winning projects this year enhance our communities and show that Montgomery County is growing and changing in sustainable ways."

The winners included Crossways Bridge and Trail in Lower Gwynedd, the Lansdale Municipal Complex, the Perkiomen School in Pennsburg, the SEPTA Lansdale Parking Garage, Bryn Mawr Village in Lower Merion, and the Thompson Lexus Willow Grove in Upper Moreland.

The Abington Township Environmental Advisory Council was also honored with the Planning Advocate Award.

More information about these awards is included below:

• Crossways Bridge and Trail is a 1.3 mile multiuse trail between Lower Gwynedd and Whitpain townships, covering nearly 10 acres of open space. The trail connects Penllyn Woods, Wissahickon Valley, and Montgomery County Community College to the cross-county Green Ribbon Trail.
• The Lansdale Municipal Complex is a historic building that was renovated into an environmentally friendly, Silver LEED certified space featuring a large outdoor area.
• The SEPTA Lansdale Parking Garage was an important step in the borough's redevelopment, providing 680 additional spaces to make public transit more widely accessible and usable. The garage was built sustainably and also features bioretention areas with native vegetation.
• The Perkiomen School is a private school set on 58 acres featuring a restored 100-year-old Carnegie Library, meditation garden, cottage style dormitories, athletic fields, and more.
• Bryn Mawr Village connects 3.1 acres to the downtown district, maintaing historic architecture while implementing modern amenities.
• Thomson Lexus Willow Grove implemented comprehensive conservation practices to improve water quality and handle stormwater runoff, protecting the nearby Pennypack Creek. Porous pavement and nearby rain gardens highlight the development.
• The Abington Township Environmental Advisory Council holds a variety of volunteer programs and education events, and recently received 3-STAR Community Certification for sustainability. Notably, the council implemented more than 500 rain barrels throughout the community.

Images via Montgomery County