Committee on the Environment (COTE)
Chair: Elisa Rocha Board Liaison: Willard Williams Staff Liaison: Paul Davis
Purpose: The Committee on the Environment (COTE) is committed to educating professionals and the public on sustainable design issues and supporting an agenda of various public and private agencies and organizations. Our belief is that design excellence can only be discussed within the context of sustainability.
Resources:
The COTE Network Guide to Local + State Groups A resource of best practices developed by local leaders for local leaders.
COTE Announcements
Click on the announcement to learn more
Green Champion Summit
COTE’s main event is the AIAO COTE Green Champion Summit, which brings to you sustainability leaders from around the region and country. This event is held annually in October during Portland’s Sustainable Building Week.
Past Event Recordings:
2023 Green Champion Summit Marlon Blackwell, FAIA discussed how his firm culture and architectural approach work to accomplish common goals between client and community, achieving elegant design as a civil right. He utilized case studies from his firm's award-winning portfolio to illustrate the process of inclusion that leads to resilience.
2022 Green Champion Summit Attendees discussed how already-strong efforts to reduce both carbon and greenhouse gasses can be bolstered by new legislation, technologies and practices which could steepen our approach to end climate change.
2021 Green Champion Summit Attendees discussed on the imperative for climate action now.
Committee Resources
AIA Framework For Design Excellence The Framework for Design Excellence represents the defining principles of good design in the 21st century. Comprised of 10 principles and accompanied by searching questions, the Framework seeks to inform progress toward a zero-carbon, equitable, resilient, and healthy built environment.
COTE Top Ten Award The Committee on the Environment (COTE®) Top Ten award program was founded on the idea that sustainability is essential to design excellence and vice versa. It has become the industry’s best-known award program recognizing innovative projects integrating exemplary performance with compelling design. This page discusses eligibility, submission requirements, and highlights past winners of the award (see below for 2025 winners). There is also a link to the COTE Super Spreadsheet, to help you understand and calculate metrics associated with the Framework for Design Excellence in order to analyze and improve your project.
COTE Chapter Guide The AIA National COTE Leadership Network worked to create this guide to assist members in forming and sustaining local COTE groups and to strengthen the national network of these groups.
