The main authors of the Energy and water efficient border control station, Julie Snow and Matt Kreilich, were presented with a certificate to commemorate the project’s status as one of 15 Global Holcim Awards finalists in the previous competition. Since then, the implemented project has received much attention and has recently won two additional prizes which recognize the contextual, aesthetic, and social performance of the project.

The Energy and water efficient border control station was completed in April 2013. The facility provides a new port of entry in Van Buren, ME, USA on the Canadian border, and meets the US Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED Gold criteria. 

The projects that received Holcim Awards Gold, Silver, or Bronze in each of the five regions of the world were automatically qualified to compete for the Global Holcim Awards 2012. The more extensive submission on the Energy and water efficient border control station for the global phase of the competition can be found here:

Project posters »

The jury commended the project for the adroit synthesis of design and technology, successfully applying state-of-the-art features of sustainability in a government project with its regulatory implications. The design is dignified, simple and elegant. Instead of a “noisy” appearance it is well integrated into the context and creates the maximum spatial quality out of the rather simple program of the border station.

This project has an explicit function as a border control station on the US frontier to Canada, thus needing to meet a range of stringent regulations for safety, operation and durability and yet provide a welcoming appearance to visitors. Efficiency demands an enhanced capacity for visual surveillance to enable as few as two officers to operate the station. Harsh weather conditions during winter require a strong canopy roof to provide shelter for exterior control operations.