Across the country, AIA COTE state and local chapters are driving meaningful climate action through advocacy, public education, and community-centered engagement—advancing local resilience and sustainability. This spotlight series showcases specific initiatives designed to inspire and empower COTE groups nationwide to take action and lead climate solutions in their own communities.
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When the AIA Westchester Hudson Valley (WHV) Committee on the Environment (COTE) was founded, the goal was simple but ambitious: to raise awareness of sustainability strategies across the region and connect local action to the broader mission of the AIA. That vision came to life in a powerful way through the chapter’s second symposium, “How Do We Practice to Address the Climate Crisis?”
Hosted at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, a facility celebrated for its regenerative design, the symposium served as a dedicated pause: a day for reflection, cross-disciplinary dialogue, and climate-focused connection. The event brought together nationally recognized voices in climate advocacy, building science, and equitable design to explore the architect’s role as a changemaker in both environmental and social contexts.
The dynamic speaker lineup reinforced the architect’s integral role as a thought leader and encouraged attendees to think critically about how they practice and how their work can respond to the climate emergency.
The response was immediate and energizing. The symposium drew the largest turnout of any COTE event in chapter history, including many attendees who had never previously engaged with AIA WHV. That influx of new voices brought fresh perspectives and helped grow the chapter’s COTE group in both numbers and momentum.
Positive feedback from attendees reinforced the appetite for programming rooted in climate leadership and led to the launch of a new virtual series called COTEversations: casual, member-driven discussions designed to sustain dialogue between larger events. Members suggest topics, invite speakers, and use the space to highlight local leadership, share lessons, and support one another’s climate-focused work.
One standout moment? Lunch under the autumn trees, where participants continued conversations from the morning sessions, sharing personal stories, projects, and lessons from their own practices. It was a powerful reminder that real connection happens in the space we make for it.
“The AIAWHV Chapter is proud and fully supportive of the work of our Committee on the Environment, led by Katie Alberte and Adina Banayan. The October 7th program was exceptional.…The Committee’s work leads and informs our chapter members but also sends impactful ripples throughout our region.”
Stephen Tilly AIA, CPHC, LEED AP, Past AIAWHV Chapter President (2024)
Acknowledgments
AIA WHV COTE extends deep thanks to the generous speakers who shared their time and insight: Bill Caplan, Ken Levenson, Christina Griffin, Bruce Becker, Dr. Sharon Sutton, and Illya Azaroff.