Owner Award 2024

2024 Thomas "Tommy" Rawls Distinguished Owner Award

KEN LAROE, CEO, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD & FOUNDER, CLIMATE FIRST BANK

Ken LaRoe has embraced the design-build process at his company, Climate First Bank. He has found it a highly effective delivery method particularly for his sustainable projects. Over the past seven years, he has overseen the completion of six design-build projects showcasing the effectiveness of the method in meeting complex sustainability goals while maintaining cost and time efficiencies. 

One of the standout projects under his leadership is the Winter Park branch of Climate First Bank, which features one of Florida's largest vertical solar facades. The success of this project, which has achieved accolades such as LEED Platinum certification, demonstrates the potential of design-build to align the goals of the Owner, designer and builder.

He has been an active participant in DBIA and has had his work highlighted in several DBIA seminars and workshops as case studies for sucessfully integrating sustainability with design-build. He willingly shares his knowledge of design-build through speaking engagements, publications and participation in events.