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MISSOULA - It has been complete for less than a year and already one Missoula building is catching the eyes of the Northwest, winning a prestigious award.

The Pacific Northwest International Section of the Air and Waste Management Association awarded the Payne Family Native American Center with its Environmental Achievement award on Friday during the association's 50th annual conference.

Awards chair Melissa McAfee said the building was a clear winner, from its construction of recycled materials to its energy efficiency.

"It was just an outstanding nomination given the Native American aspects and the appreciation for the Native American culture in the design and construction of the building and its uses as well as the LEED-Gold certification which is so good for the environment," McAfee said.

The Environmental Achievement award has also gone to major companies like Boeing.

This year the group also recognized the Ash Grove plant in Oregon for reducing mercury emissions.

The Native American Center is the second university building to win in the history of the award.