Builder to be honored for 'green' efforts

Russell C. Albanese, chairman of the Albanese Organization Inc., will be honored next week at an annual gala event for the green building movement.

The Long Island chapter of the United States Green Building Council will recognize Albanese for his and his Garden City firm’s accomplishments in the green building sector on Long Island. Rudy Holesek, USGBC-LI chairman, described Albanese, pictured, as a “true visionary leader in building sustainable.”

The Albanese firm developed Long Island’s first LEED — Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design — certified commercial office building at 1001 Franklin Ave. in Garden City, the USGBC-LI said. The Solaire in Battery Park City, Manhattan, is the first LEED Gold certified high rise residential building in the U.S. and also an Albanese Organization project.

Community leaders from the real estate, construction and engineering industries as well as government and community representatives will gather at the annual gala to promote the design, construction and operation of green buildings. The event will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Huntington’s Oheka Castle. All funds raised support the organization’s environmental mission as well as its academic scholarships, educational programs and events.