The AIA is celebrating the kickoff of National Architecture Week today, April 22nd, in alignment with Earth Day 2018! As such, the first of seven daily themes for National Architecture Week will focus on Sustainability, including the announcement of the AIA National Committee on the Environment 2018 COTE Top Ten Awards!

AIA National COTE Top Ten Awards

Here locally in Detroit, our own Committee on the Environment is also hard at work promoting sustainable design. As a result of their hard work, this year’s AIA Detroit Sustainable Design Award will employ a new format to encourage broader participation among award submissions, and to promote the idea that sustainability should be promoted and celebrated in all projects.

For the first time this year, ALL PROJECTS submitted for the AIA Detroit Project Honor Awards will be eligible to be considered in the Sustainable Design Award category at no additional cost. Projects wishing to be considered in this category are expected to include evidence of the sustainable aspects of the project within the standard project submission criteria.

The AIA Detroit COTE is a robust and active group of architects and allied professionals, working to advance, disseminate, and advocate—to the profession, the building industry, the academy, and the public—design practices that integrate built and natural systems and enhance both the design quality and environmental performance of the built environment.

The AIAD COTE is open to anyone with an interest in sustainability in the built environment (send a message to COTE@AIADetroit.com to get involved!), but relies on a core group of dedicated volunteers to drive programming and solicit member and public interest to steer future initiatives. AIA Detroit is proud to introduce the 2018 COTE Steering Group:

Chris Heine (Co-Chair), Architect/Planner, SmithGroupJJR | As a co-chair of AIAD COTE, I’m thrilled to be connecting with other professionals in the community to both expand my personal knowledge and to help raise awareness of sustainable design in the City of Detroit.

Kari Rosteck (Co-Chair), Mechanical Designer, Stantec | The knowledge transfer within this group is unlike any other, I always walk away with a list of new ideas and topics to read up on. I am excited to see where this group ventures next!

Jim Newman, CEM, LEED AP BD+C, ASHRAE OPMP & BEAP, FESD, Owner/Managing Partner, Newman Consulting Group.

Anne M. Cox, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP, EDAC –  Architect/Healthcare Planner – HKS, Inc | I love the knowledge exchange & connections that I take away from each meeting & event. I am a Sustainability Champion at HKS, a health enthusiast and a reduce/reuse/recycle freak.  I enjoy putting a sustainability spin on whatever the task may be.

Toni Henry, Sustainable Planning Associate, Zachary & Associates, Inc. & Project Manager, Detroit Collaborative Design Center | Interest in renewable energy and Green Storm Water Infrastructure

Lydeen Ramirez, Project Manager, Paige Construction, Inc.

Natalie Minott, Interior Designer, Gensler | I’m excited about the momentum in the city for sustainability, AIA COTE is a big driver in that! I’m also an environmental engineer, excited about green infrastructure!

Ben Ridderbos, Architect, Lord Aeck Sargent | I am interested in COTE because I am very much interested in the environment, how we can solve sustainability issues, and meeting other like-minded people! What I bring: I have worked on a couple Living Building Challenge projects and would like to share that experience, information. I would like to learn more about Detroit 2030. I would also like to learn more about different initiatives going on in Metro Detroit and find out how I can get involved.

Jeff Gaines, Principal, Director of Design, Planning and Sustainability, Albert Kahn Associates Inc

Lisa Heine, Designer, Quinn Evans Architects

Judy Bethuy, Architectural Department, Albert Kahn Associates Inc

Interested in joining? Anyone can! COTE serves as the community and voice on behalf of AIA architects regarding sustainable design. Visit the AIA Detroit website or reach out to the COTE Co-Chairs Chris Heine and Kari Rosteck for more information.