The Canopy Awards

Trees and People Coalition hosted the first Canopy Awards Ceremony on April 9, 2026. The awards recognized Seattle architects, landscape designers, developers, community advocates and educators who:

• Showed a strong commitment to keeping and planting of urban trees in the city       
• Thought carefully on how buildings and trees can exist together within a site’s current environment
• Developed educational programs that enrich and engage communities and focus on creating healthy environments

Award Category 1 – New Residential Multifamily Development

Crow Woods Cohousing Community

Ecological stewardship and dense housing define this cohousing community. Jane Lester wanted to create a forested cohousing community. She wasn’t sure she’d find the right property in Seattle. But when she found two lots for sale in the Northgate neighborhood, she knew she’d found an urban nest for herself and others who chose to join her. Architect Rob Humble helped her realize her dream. 10 mature Doug Firs and Western Red Cedars were protected by building the 9 cohousing units on the perimeter of the lot and by limiting their foot print to between 1,000 and 1,500 square feet.

Award Category 2: Residential Renovation or Minor Addition

A Windermere Garden 

Landscape architect Brooks Kolb says A Windermere Garden was one of the crowning projects of his career. 19 mature trees were protected during the renovation and 8 new trees were planted. While Windermere is an affluent neighborhood, if it weren’t for homeowners and landscape designers like Kolb, Seattle’s overall tree canopy cover would be even lower than 28%. Affluent neighborhoods contribute a large share of Seattle’s urban forest. These 27 plus Windermere trees don’t benefit environmentally underserved areas, but they do their part to manage stormwater and ensure waterways are less polluted for people and marine life everywhere.

Award Category 3: Gardens, Parks & Public Places

Valley School Outdoor Classroom and Amphitheater

What could be finer than an outdoor classroom in a tree house – an old quince fruit tree house to be exact! The science teacher at Valley School wanted an outdoor classroom for years to instill a deep love and respect for nature in students. Enter Babienko Architects, who realized that positioning the new structure in the arms of the quince was an ideal solution. Now these students have a unique perch to see trees and nature around them. Up this high, nature is on full display from mealy bugs that collect on branches to songbirds, wind, rain and sun.

Award Category 4: Community Outreach and Educational Programs – Two Awardees

Robert Eagle Staff Forest

This mini-forest was planted with native trees and plants on the grounds of a school that is 74% BIPOC, Robert Eagle Staff Middle School. The mini-forest is a rapid rewilding of an urban space. Where once there was a playground and grass there is now a self-sustaining ecosystem that maximizes biodiversity and climate resilience.

Save Shoreline Trees

Over 100 street trees, all native Doug Firs, were slated to be cut down for a new sidewalk in front of WA Department of Transportation (WDOT) Regional Headquarters. When tree advocates learned of the project, they rallied under the banner, Save Shoreline Trees. It took them a year, but they were able to convince WDOT and the City of Shoreline that an alternative sidewalk would allow the majority of trees to be protected. WDOT and its construction partner found it in a material called PermaTrak which would be built over tree roots. Today, 94 native Doug Firs stand tall.