Somewhere in California right now, someone is designing a building that changes what's possible.

A space that does more with less. A project that proves sustainability and ambition aren't trade-offs.

The California Green Building & Community Awards exist to find that work, celebrate it, and put it on the map: the people, projects, and organizations raising the bar across the state.

On December 10, one winner in each category is named live at the Green Gala. 

This is our moment to honor the best of what this community can do.

Every ticket supports USGBC California's initiatives across the state.

Be in the room when it happens, raising a glass with the people and teams everyone will be talking about. Last year, these names were called.

You'll want to be there if you're:

• An architect, engineer, or designer connecting with the developers shaping California's next projects
• A developer or building owner scouting partners, contractors, or products
• A building product company looking for visibility with the people who buy
• A policymaker working alongside the industry voices shaping state standards
• A sustainability consultant building relationships across the firms doing this work
• An emerging leader looking to meet the people already doing it

This year, we're doing the Green Gala a little differently.

We've built the evening around what makes this night special: the people. Expect an open, flowing celebration where you can move through the room, catch up with familiar faces, and meet the architects, developers, and leaders shaping California's next projects.

All at the Audrey Irmas Pavilion, one of the most striking spaces in Los Angeles.

Your Evening:

6:00 PM · Arrive in the Irmas Family Courtyard
Walk the red carpet, grab a glass of champagne, and settle in with passed appetizers, live music, and a photo booth.

7:00 PM · Celebrate in the Goldberg Ballroom
Head inside for the California Green Building & Community Awards, as we name this year's winners live.

8:00 PM · Back Outside
Charcuterie and the bar are waiting in the courtyard.

8:30 PM · Dessert Bar Opens
Something sweet to keep the conversations going.

9:20 PM · Last Call for Auction Bids
Your final chance to bid.

9:30 PM · The Terrace Opens to Everyone
Live music, an open bar, and coffee and tea across the terrace and courtyard to close out the night.

10:00 PM · Event Ends

Audrey Irmas Pavilion in Los Angeles, CA.

Extraordinary in its stature and ambitious in its vision, the Audrey Irmas Pavilion beckons Angelenos to gather for celebration and community. Located adjacent to the historic sanctuary of Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Koreatown, the Pavilion is a standing testament to Los Angeles, to the historic and contemporary, a gift to all who delight in the joy of gathering.

Parking: Valet & street parking available

Transit: Metro D Line · The closest stop is Wilshire/Normandie

Accessibility: Fully ADA accessible

He's back, by popular demand.

You asked, and we listened. Esteban Gast returns as the host of this year's Green Gala.

An award-winning Colombian-American comedian, writer, and host, Esteban has taught creativity, led an eco-community, created socially conscious media, and performed stand-up across the country. He has a gift for making people laugh about the things that matter most, from climate and equity to identity and justice.

Variety called him "irreverent but aspirational." Grist named him a Grist50 Fixer, and he's been recognized among the Top 100 Latinos taking action on climate change.

If you were there last year, you know. If you weren't, this is your chance.

California State Parks

We picked this theme because it says what we believe: protecting a place worth protecting isn't just something California does in its parks, it's the same instinct behind every net-zero building, every resilient community project, every person pushing this industry forward.

Each ticket sold, each bid placed in the silent auction, and each conversation started here helps power USGBC-CA's work across the state for another year.

Dress Code: Evening wear with a nod to the outdoors (earth tones, botanical details, natural textures. Bonus points for vintage, secondhand, rented, or rewearing something you already love).

Nominations & Awards Timeline

May 27

Submissions launch at the Annual California Green Building Conference.

October 2 

Nominations due by midnight on October 2.

October 26

A shortlist of finalists in each category is notified directly.

December 10

A single winner in each category is announced live at our annual Green Gala celebration.

The California Green Building Awards honor two kinds of leadership: projects that raise the bar for sustainable design and the communities and organizations driving the movement forward.

Each award recognizes a distinct contribution to California's green building future. A single winner is named in each of the 17 categories.