Architects play a critical role in creating a healthy, beautiful, inclusive and environmentally responsible built environment. For the last quarter century, the AIA Committee on the Environment has represented the leading edge of this movement and sets an example for others to follow. We have no intention of stopping now.
Architects are required by law to protect the health and safety of the public.
Architects work under a broad set of principles, which include cultural, social, religious and environmental rights. Our duties encompass the right of equal access, housing rights, worker's rights and the protection of open spaces.
We have an ethical duty and know from experience that it is possible to make buildings that are better for public health and safety while reducing or eliminating their contribution towards climate change—the ultimate public health threat.
Government plays a complementary role to architects in the protection of public health and safety by enforcing minimum standards through building codes and environmental and safety standards on the materials and methods used to construct buildings. Government can also ‘lead by example’ by setting performance standards well above code minimum, helping American building practices stay competitive with those around the world and lowering operational costs for taxpayers for government-owned buildings.
We will work to enable fact-based decision making, advancing policies to help make our buildings the healthiest, the safest, and the greatest in the world.
We are deeply committed to achieving these goals in our practices, our work and with our communities. This commitment is more important now than ever. Now is the time to recommit to the AIA 2030 Commitment. Now is the time to create another net-positive building. Now is the time to become engaged with our local communities. And, now is the time to involve yourself with your Chapter’s COTE Committee as we continue to work toward a healthy, beautiful, equitable, and environmentally responsible built world. Working together we will make a difference.
American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment
2016 Advisory Group
Paula McEvoy, FAIA (Chair)
Mary Ann Lazarus, FAIA (Vice Chair)
Rand Ekman, AIA (Past Chair)
Angela Brooks, FAIA
Alison Kwok, Ph.D., AIA
Stephanie Horowitz, AIA
Lance Hosey, FAIA
Andrea Love, AIA
Jon Penndorf, AIA
Z Smith, AIA
Tate Walker, AIA
Bob Berkebile, FAIA, Founding COTE Chair 1990-1992
Harry Gordon, FAIA, COTE Chair 1995
Don Watson, FAIA, COTE Chair 1996
Sandra Mendler, AIA, COTE Chair 2000-2001
Joyce Lee, FAIA, COTE Chair 2002
Dan Williams, FAIA, COTE Chair 2003
Mark Rylander, AIA COTE Chair 2004
Vivian Loftness, FAIA, COTE Chair 2005
James Binkley, FAIA COTE Chair 2006
Kira Gould, Allied AIA, COTE Chair 2007
Henry Siegel, FAIA, COTE Chair 2008
Filo Castore, AIA, COTE Chair 2012
Bill Leddy, FAIA, COTE Chair 2013
Bill Sturm, AIA, COTE Chair 2014
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
November 18, 2016
November 17, 2016
I am truly overwhelmed by the momentum behind this effort. This shift in the conversation belongs entirely to you and your commitment to a better built environment.
Reached 100 supporters
November 14, 2016
November 12, 2016
I am honestly overwhelmed by how many of you have joined this effort since I started it. If you could find one colleague to send this link to today we might just hit that first hundred mark before the day is out.
116 Comments
As clients request the most economical buildings from us, and we are forced to deliver them, it is encumbent on local governments to adopt standards so we have some ground to stand on. Too often, ethical action is seen as extravagance.
Thank you for saying what remained unsaid in Robert Ivy's letter. There is no issue as pressing as the environment for the profession to confront, and continue to confront, no matter the passing vagaries of politics.
I am grateful for AIA COTE's leadership on the issue of environmentally responsive design, and I believe building more sustainable communities goes hand in hand with equity. Let's keep this up.
As a recently licensed architect, I hold my duty to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the general public very seriously. We must continue to protect ourselves, our county, and our future.
Architecture is a service industry that facilitates others to drive our economy. Yet, we are gatekeepers and that (potentially) affords us some degree of influence. There are too few examples of our community leveraging that influence to be actual drivers of positive change. Let's step it up.
Environment , Ecology, Sustainability, Social justice and Equity are integrally connected. As architects we are called to understand the multiple impacts of our work.
Sustainable design and development is our most important obligation.
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Architects play a critical role in creating a healthy, beautiful, inclusive and environmentally responsible built environment. For the last quarter century, the AIA Committee on the Environment has represented the leading edge of this movement and sets an example for others to follow. We have no intention of stopping now.
Architects are required by law to protect the health and safety of the public.
Architects work under a broad set of principles, which include cultural, social, religious and environmental rights. Our duties encompass the right of equal access, housing rights, worker's rights and the protection of open spaces.
We have an ethical duty and know from experience that it is possible to make buildings that are better for public health and safety while reducing or eliminating their contribution towards climate change—the ultimate public health threat.
Government plays a complementary role to architects in the protection of public health and safety by enforcing minimum standards through building codes and environmental and safety standards on the materials and methods used to construct buildings. Government can also ‘lead by example’ by setting performance standards well above code minimum, helping American building practices stay competitive with those around the world and lowering operational costs for taxpayers for government-owned buildings.
We will work to enable fact-based decision making, advancing policies to help make our buildings the healthiest, the safest, and the greatest in the world.
We are deeply committed to achieving these goals in our practices, our work and with our communities. This commitment is more important now than ever. Now is the time to recommit to the AIA 2030 Commitment. Now is the time to create another net-positive building. Now is the time to become engaged with our local communities. And, now is the time to involve yourself with your Chapter’s COTE Committee as we continue to work toward a healthy, beautiful, equitable, and environmentally responsible built world. Working together we will make a difference.
American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment
2016 Advisory Group
Paula McEvoy, FAIA (Chair)
Mary Ann Lazarus, FAIA (Vice Chair)
Rand Ekman, AIA (Past Chair)
Angela Brooks, FAIA
Alison Kwok, Ph.D., AIA
Stephanie Horowitz, AIA
Lance Hosey, FAIA
Andrea Love, AIA
Jon Penndorf, AIA
Z Smith, AIA
Tate Walker, AIA
Bob Berkebile, FAIA, Founding COTE Chair 1990-1992
Harry Gordon, FAIA, COTE Chair 1995
Don Watson, FAIA, COTE Chair 1996
Sandra Mendler, AIA, COTE Chair 2000-2001
Joyce Lee, FAIA, COTE Chair 2002
Dan Williams, FAIA, COTE Chair 2003
Mark Rylander, AIA COTE Chair 2004
Vivian Loftness, FAIA, COTE Chair 2005
James Binkley, FAIA COTE Chair 2006
Kira Gould, Allied AIA, COTE Chair 2007
Henry Siegel, FAIA, COTE Chair 2008
Filo Castore, AIA, COTE Chair 2012
Bill Leddy, FAIA, COTE Chair 2013
Bill Sturm, AIA, COTE Chair 2014
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
November 18, 2016
November 17, 2016
I am truly overwhelmed by the momentum behind this effort. This shift in the conversation belongs entirely to you and your commitment to a better built environment.
Reached 100 supporters
November 14, 2016
November 12, 2016
I am honestly overwhelmed by how many of you have joined this effort since I started it. If you could find one colleague to send this link to today we might just hit that first hundred mark before the day is out.
116 Comments
It is worth noting that in creating healthier buildings and healthier communities, there is a real and significant savings to be had for all of us, both in quality of life and financially. So, not only is it the proper thing to do, it just makes good economic sense.
As clients request the most economical buildings from us, and we are forced to deliver them, it is encumbent on local governments to adopt standards so we have some ground to stand on. Too often, ethical action is seen as extravagance.
Thank you for saying what remained unsaid in Robert Ivy's letter. There is no issue as pressing as the environment for the profession to confront, and continue to confront, no matter the passing vagaries of politics.
I am grateful for AIA COTE's leadership on the issue of environmentally responsive design, and I believe building more sustainable communities goes hand in hand with equity. Let's keep this up.
As a recently licensed architect, I hold my duty to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the general public very seriously. We must continue to protect ourselves, our county, and our future.
Architecture is a service industry that facilitates others to drive our economy. Yet, we are gatekeepers and that (potentially) affords us some degree of influence. There are too few examples of our community leveraging that influence to be actual drivers of positive change. Let's step it up.
Environment , Ecology, Sustainability, Social justice and Equity are integrally connected. As architects we are called to understand the multiple impacts of our work.
Sustainable design and development is our most important obligation.
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It is worth noting that in creating healthier buildings and healthier communities, there is a real and significant savings to be had for all of us, both in quality of life and financially. So, not only is it the proper thing to do, it just makes good economic sense.