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Knowledge Communities

Committee on the Environment (COTE®)

AIA Atlanta COTE® supports regenerative design practices and integrating built and natural systems to create sustainable, resilient, and equitable buildings and communities. Our meetings unite owners, contractors, engineers, landscape architects, and sustainability consultants to share strategies. COTE’s work includes:

  • Workshops and monthly lectures (See the latest here)
  • Advocacy with government and civic organizations
  • Supporting the 2030 Commitment towards a carbon-free built environment
  • Synergies with the AIA Framework for Design Excellence to create better buildings

 

Get COTE Updates

AIA 2030 Commitment

Going carbon neutral

The AIA 2030 Commitment is an actionable climate strategy that outlines a set of standards and goals for reaching net zero emissions in the built environment. Nearly 1,400 architecture firms have already made the commitment.

The latest climate data tells us that reducing carbon emissions is not enough. To make the biggest impact, we must all commit to net zero emissions by 2030—a path that requires strong, immediate action. Since the built environment creates a staggering 40% of the world’s emissions, architects, engineers, and owners play a key role.

Get Involved

Connect with COTE® on LinkedIn

Join AIA Atlanta’s COTE® on LinkedIn to connect with peers who are serious about using design to accelerate climate action and advance equity.

AIA Atlanta COTE®

AIA National COTE®

Join the 2030 Commitment

Joining the 2030 Commitment benefits your clients, your firm, and the planet. Learn what to expect when you sign on.

Read the article

Create a Sustainability Action Plan

A Sustainability Action Plan is your firm’s unique strategy for prioritizing and meeting sustainability goals. This guide shows you how.

Review the guide

See the impact firms are making

Since 2009, participants in the 2030 Commitment have reported the performance of their firm portfolios over each calendar year. See their annual progress.

View the 2030 By the Numbers report

Similar initiatives

Architectural, engineering and educational organizations’ sustainability commitment initiatives:

Building Spotlight

The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design

Designed by The Miller Hull Partnership and Lord Aeck Sargent, the Kendeda Building at Georgia Tech is zero-energy, becoming the first in Georgia and 28th in the world to earn the Living Building Challenge certification. This designation certifies the development to be among the world’s most ambitious and holistic green buildings. It is fully regenerative, with its photovoltaic system supplying over 200% of the building’s energy needs.

Explore

  • Behind COTE®

    Atlanta Leadership

  • Committee Chair

    Frances Hamilton, AIA, LEED AP BD+C

    Hamilton Architecture Studio
  • AIA Advisor

    Bill Abballe, AIA

    Bill Abballe Architecture
  • Committee Member

    Paul McKeever, AIA

    TVS
  • Committee Member

    Meg Kautz Needle, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, GRP, CDT

    Lord Aeck Sargent
  • Committee Member

    Kelly Roberts, P.E., S.E., LEED AP BD+C

    Walter P Moore
  • Committee Member

    Erich Swett, AIA, LEED AP BD+C

    Toland Mizell Architects
  • Committee Member

    Luz Teran, Intl. Assoc. AIA

    ASD | SKY
  • Founder of COTE Atlanta

    Dagmar Epsten, FAIA

    Epsten Group

  • Related AIA Courses

  • Performing Beautifully: Lessons from 2022 COTE® Top Ten Award-winning Teams:

    Examine 2021 COTE Top Ten projects through the lens of the AIA Framework for Design Excellence to highlight innovative, replicable models for more sustainable development regardless of project type, size, or location.
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  • Carbon Reduction Strategies for the AIA 2030 Commitment

    Gain the knowledge and tools to meet the AIA 2030 Commitment’s net-zero goals. Learn strategies to reduce energy use and carbon through integrated design, passive systems, energy modeling, high-performance systems, post-occupancy evaluation, and renewable energy integration.
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  • So You Want to Build a Climate-Minded Architectural Practice?

    Climate change is reshaping the built environment and architectural practice. This session examines how firms can transform culture, policies, and behaviors to respond. Attendees gain practical recommendations and tools to advance climate action and adopt more sustainable practice models.
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  • The AIA Headquarters Renewal: Advocating for a Healthy Built Environment

    The AIA’s Washington, DC headquarters is being transformed into a high-performance, values-driven workplace. This session explores the renovation of a 1973 Brutalist building into a zero-carbon, equitable, resilient, and healthy model for design leadership.
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  • Models of the Framework: At the Intersection of Sustainability and Beauty

    COTE® and Architecture Award–winning projects reveal the intersection of sustainability and design excellence. Through three projects, explore innovations aligned with the Framework for Design Excellence and gain insight into how sustainable architecture strengthens communities. Hosted by the Committee on Design.
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