Soforenko Award Nominations

For Outstanding Development Projects & Tree Preservation

Every year Canopy recognizes an individual or team with an Arnold Soforenko Award for their significant contribution to our local urban forest. The award is presented at our Annual Awards Ceremony and Mayor’s Tree Planting held every January in Palo Alto.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

Eligibility: residential or commercial development projects located in the communities of Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Menlo Park, Los Altos, and Los Altos Hills

Projects are selected based on a thoughtful approach to protecting trees in the urban environment, considering such criteria as:

• Dedication to the preservation and enhancement of tree(s) and other green infrastructure at the project site.
• Execution of a thoughtful tree protection plan.
• Designing with trees in mind.
• Innovation of construction methods to preserve trees.
• Use of innovative methods to improve the growing conditions of new and existing trees, for example: silva cells, structural soils, permeable surfaces, etc.
• Neighborhood and community benefits derived from the project.

How to Submit Nominations

Nomination submissions are due by November 30, 2018. The Canopy Award Selection Committee will make its decision in early December, and nominees will be notified by December 15, 2018.

For questions, contact Communications & Operations Manager, Shannon McDonald at [email protected]. 

Important Dates

• November 30, 2018 Nomination Application Deadline
• December 15, 2018 Awardee Notified
• January 24, 2019 Awards Ceremony and Reception

Previous Award Recipients

The following are Arnold Soforenko Award recipients for development and community projects from past years:

2018: 1400 Page Mill Road Project Team, for innovative work to design and integrate a drought-tolerant landscape with native and adaptive trees in the redevelopment of 1400 Page Mill Road in Palo Alto.

2017: Bol Park Pathway Committee, for investing in a beloved community asset, and for their instrumental role initiating a significant native tree planting along the Bol Park Bike Path.

2016: The 458 Channing Avenue Project Team, for remarkable dedication and innovation in protecting a Coast Live Oak during development.

2015: 1136 Webster Street Residential Renovation Project Team, for exceptional measures taken to protect and enhance trees during the conception, design, and construction of the home at 1136 Webster Street in Palo Alto.

2014: The Hewlett Packard Historic Oak Tree Preservation Team, for preserving a historic oak tree at the entrance of Hewlett Packard World Headquarters and Executive Briefing Center, and making the tree a centerpiece of the redesigned building.

2013: 265 Lytton Avenue Project, for preserving the mature signature coast live oak during the commercial redevelopment of 265 Lytton Street in Palo Alto.

2012: Arboreal Project, for overcoming numerous construction challenges and preservation of the mature trees on the site.

2011: Ellis Partners, LLC and the Town and the Country Village design team, for their outstanding appreciation and respect for trees during the Town and Country Village remodel.

2010: Ad-Hoc California Avenue Tree Citizens’ Group

2009: Classic Residence by Hyatt in Palo Alto

2004: The Trees for El Camino Project

2000: 3170 Porter Dr. (Incyte Genomics) in the Stanford Research Park