Committee on the Environment

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ALBION DISTRICT LIBRARY BY PERKINS + WILL IS A 2018 COTE TOP TEN RECIPIENT. IMAGE: DOUBLESPACE PHOTOGRAPHY

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Who we are

The Committee on the Environment (COTE®) is an AIA Knowledge Community working for architects, allied professionals, and the public to achieve climate action and climate justice through design. We believe that design excellence is the foundation of a healthy, sustainable, and equitable future. Our work promotes design strategies that empower all AIA members to realize the best social and environmental outcomes with the clients and the communities they serve.

Enjoy our latest on COTE news (and follow us on X and LinkedIn). 

To learn about the Framework for Design Excellence (formerly the COTE Top Ten Measures), click here.

Check out COTE's history and timeline. 

Starting a local COTE or sustainability group and need some guidance? Check out the AIA COTE Network Resources here.

A big thank you to our 2024 sponsors: 
Founding sponsors: Building Green
Premier sponsors: Sherwin-Williams
Sustaining sponsors: GAF Roofing, Milliken, Andersen Windows,
BlueScope Buildings
Green sponsors: EPIC Metals
Allied sponsors: TLC Engineering, Sierra Pacific Windows

  • 1.  COTE Network Update

    Posted 12-21-2021 11:29 AM
      |   view attached

    COTE chapters across the country were very ambitious in 2021 and 2022 will undoubtedly be no exception. Although leaders have had to adapt to a new way of leading these groups, shifting from in-person to virtual events, the needle is continuing to be moved. The National COTE Network is growing; there's now representation in 26 States, the newest groups including AIA Long Beach COTE, St. Louis COTE, Central OK COTE, New Mexico COTE, and Tampa Bay COTE. COTE chapters have been championing the 2030 Commitment, they've been busy organizing and hosting countless educational events, are actively advocating for policy changes, and helping to bring up the next generation of climate champions.

    COTE leaders from across the country meet quarterly to discuss their goals, present accomplishments, advertise upcoming events, and gain insight from one another. One of the hottest topics this year was Awards, about which the Network hosted a special roundtable. Leaders gathered to discuss ideas for integrating elements of the Framework for Design Excellence and associated metrics into their local Chapters' Awards programs, including using the Common App to do so. The collaborations and ideas that have sprouted from these meetings, especially over the past year due to the virtual shift, promise new potential for outreach and growth throughout the AIA community. New State COTE groups have been formed, in Texas and New Mexico, California COTE is thriving with tremendous support from a growing number of COTE groups across the state, and the South Atlantic COTE chapters have created a new partnership to host an entire new conference, Aspire. Other successful events hosted in 2021 included the AIA LA COTE 1.5 degree Symposium on Climate Change, AIA Austin's Design Excellence Conference, AIA New Orleans' Rising 21 Symposium, AIA Houston's Gulf Coast Green Conference, AIA Dallas's annual Design Excellence Product Showcase and AIA Tennessee's P.R.I.C.E. of Change Conference. Several of these events heavily focused on environmental justice and equity.

    There were some common themes across the COTE chapters in 2021. Several groups have developed a 2030 Commitment working group or subcommittee to help more members create sustainability action plans, measure, and report data to reach Net Zero. AIA East Bay COTE hosts what they call a 2030 Reporting Hackathon. There is a growing focus on environmental justice (Atlanta, Austin, Philly, Minnesota, Maryland, New York, Central OK, Western MA, and Los Angeles facilitated sessions on the topic). Electrification is a hot topic amongst west coast and east coast COTE chapters. AIA Houston COTE and Central OK COTE created resources for homeowners and residential architects. AIA Columbus, Dallas, and Minnesota COTE groups hosted sessions focused on the new AIA Materials Pledge

    Our 2022 predictions for COTE chapters include a heightened focus on the 2030 Commitment, more technical training and implementation, more partnerships and collaborative events, and a heightened focus on communications as we transition to hybrid or in-person events. This year's newsletters will include updates on what these Chapters are up to and information on how you can get involved. We expect that 2022 will be a fruitful year for climate action!



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    Kendall Claus Associate AIA
    Perkins+Will
    Livingston TX
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