Committee on the Environment Community Blog

What's this COTE Top Ten button in the DDx?

By Michelle Amt, FAIA posted 9 days ago

The COTE® Super Spreadsheet has been a useful tool for architects seeking to measure and communicate design excellence. Developed in 2016 as part of the COTE Top Ten Toolkit, the spreadsheet provided a structured, quantitative way to standardize and evaluate ...

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March 2026 AIA Corporate Partners COTE Newsletter Article: Kingspan

By Ellie Falcon posted 12 days ago

Why site-specific EPDs matter for carbon-smart design decisions By Brent Trenga, director of sustainability, Kingspan Insulated Panels North America As architects work to meet increasingly ambitious climate goals, the conversation around ...

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CAE Spring Conference 2026—Designing Belonging: Reciprocity, Resilience, and Regeneration

By Alison Karfeld posted 14 days ago

April 28–May 1 | Seattle | The Alexis Royal Sonesta Hotel Seattle Join us for the AIA Committee on Architecture for Education Spring Conference 2026! Set in a region defined by dramatic natural context, vibrant international trade, industrial ...

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Architects as Translators, not Evangelists: Sustainability in the Texas Hill Country

By Ellen Mitchell, AIA posted 19 days ago

Located deep in the heart of Texas where prairies begin to give way to rugged limestone cliffs and clear rivers cut through dry land, the Texas Hill Country is easy to romanticize. But practicing architecture here means respecting limits – water is not ...

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COTE Network Corner: Q2 call

By Roshni Krishnan, Intl. Assoc. AIA posted 22 days ago

COTE Network Corner: Q2 Call There has never been a more important time to share initiatives and cheer our peer chapters leaders from across the country steering climate action and sustainability initiatives. On our first call, we got to celebrate ...

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COTE Book Series: Upcoming & Past Reviews & Talks (including recording links)

By Kira Gould, Hon. AIA posted 28 days ago

COTE Books: A Series of Reviews & Talks we typically review & host talks about 3-4 books per year virtual events are hosted by local or state COTE groups interested in being a host or suggesting a book? email Kira Gould at kiragould@kiragould.com ...

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Q1 Cote Network Reminder

By Sean Costello, AIA posted 01-30-2026

COTE Chapter Leaders, Happy Friday! This is a friendly reminder that our Q1 AIA COTE Network Call is scheduled for Tuesday, February 3rd at 2:00 PM ET . We’re looking forward to connecting and hearing updates from your chapter! Action ...

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Missed It Live? Watch the 2025 AIA COTE Top Ten Showcase On-Demand!

By bruce boul posted 01-29-2026

If you weren’t able to join us live, we’ve got you covered. Yesterday’s AIA COTE Top Ten 2025 Showcase brought together project teams from across the country to share the thinking, rigor, and outcomes behind last year’s Top Ten Award–winning projects—each ...

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Voices of Advocacy: Chris Hellstern

By Lisa Richmond, Hon. AIA posted 01-23-2026

An interview with Chris Hellstern, AIA, about Washington’s Buy Clean Buy Fair, the importance of alliances, and why architects make great advocates. Lisa Richmond and Joyce Raybuck A Career Built Around Sustainability ...

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AIA Statement on U.S. withdrawal from UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

By Lisa Ferretto, AIA posted 01-12-2026

AIA responds to U.S. withdrawal from United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Statement below from www.aia.org/statement-us-withdrawal-unfccc Linked in post ___ " WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 9, 2026 The United States ...

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Fresh Perspectives: Meet Your Incoming COTE Leadership

By Katie Nordenson posted 12-11-2025

Pictured from left to right: Beth Brant, Timothy Lock, and Lisa Richmond. The Committee on the Environment (COTE) is thrilled to welcome three new Leadership Group members, each of whom will be an incredible addition to the team. Let’s learn a ...

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[Webinar] AIA COTE Top Ten 2025 Showcase: Celebrating Sustainable Design Excellence

By Lindsey Falasca, AIA posted 12-08-2025

Join us for an inspiring showcase of the AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE) Top Ten 2025 Award Winners . The COTE Top Ten is the industry’s premier recognition program for sustainable design excellence. This pecha kucha-style webinar will highlight ...

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Letter from the Chair: Where do we go from here? The critical quest to widen the circle.

By Ellen Mitchell, AIA posted 12-08-2025

2025 was a tough year for sustainability. Federal incentives were repealed, renewable energy projects stalled, and even our language around environmental issues came under increased scrutiny. The sense of momentum we had been building over the last ...

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Together for a Living Future

By Kira Gould, Hon. AIA posted 12-03-2025

Together for a Living Future By Kira Gould, Hon. AIA As you consider the learning and gathering opportunities in the year ahead, I’m here to remind you about Living Future . This year, it is in Seattle -- the Pacific Northwest was the ...

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COTE Book Review: What We Can Do Right Now: Allison Anderson’s Climate Adaptation for Architects: A Design Toolkit

By Kira Gould, Hon. AIA posted 12-03-2025

Please join us for the COTE book talk about this book – with the author, Allison Anderson, FAIAI, and the reviewer, Megan Recher Campos, AIA – on 24 February 2026, from 12-1pm Eastern Time. The virtual event is being hosted by the AIA North Carolina COTE ...

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Share your Circular Economy Example Case Study

By Kjell Anderson, FAIA posted 12-03-2025

HI everyone - As you know, the circular economy space doesn’t have a long list of published case studies, so practitioners are not able to cite examples. We’d love to hear about your example! Some of us have created a brief survey, perhaps 5 minutes ...

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Q4 COTE Network Reminder

By Sean Costello, AIA posted 11-07-2025

Dear COTE Chapter Leaders, Happy Friday! This is a friendly reminder that our Q4 AIA COTE Network Call is scheduled for Tuesday, November 18th at 2:00 PM ET . We’re looking forward to connecting and hearing updates from your chapter! Action ...

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November 2025 AIA Corporate Partners COTE Newsletter Article: ROCKWOOL

By Ellie Falcon posted 11-03-2025

A systemic approach to retrofits: The benefits of incorporating stone wool How to choose the right approach and materials for retrofits, from AIA partner Rockwool. ROCKWOOL North America Each retrofit project is a unique and complex ...

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In Memory of Ganesh Nayak, AIA

By Ellen Mitchell, AIA posted 10-27-2025

If we’re lucky, we have people who come into our lives in big and small ways that leave deep and lasting imprints on who we are and how we view the world. Ganesh Nayak, AIA was one such person for me. I will be forever grateful for the time we spent ...

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Letter from the Chair: November / December 2025

By Robin Puttock, AIA posted 10-21-2025

The 2025 COTE goals that we drafted back in January are strikingly similar to the goals I have for my students. Collaboration. Transformation. Excellence. It has been my distinct honor and privilege to lead this remarkable group of professionals this ...

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