As you join us, please do the following:

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1. Check your contact & associated committee information HERE
• Update/add contact information HERE

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• Connect on AIA Community Hub HERE

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• Complete COTE Network Annual Survey

click HERE https://form.jotform.com/260266810027148

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• Connect with COTE’s social media:

LinkedIn: Follow COTE here: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/122384224/

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Join COTE group here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/147669/

WELCOME to the COTE Network Call!

AGENDA:

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1. Welcome / Intro - (3 min)
2. Local events via Community Hub (COTE + COTE Network - Beth (5 min)
3. Introduce Carbon + Action Panel - Alyssa (2 min)
4. Current Carbon Tracking Trends in DDX “the Why” - Daniel Overbey (10 min)
5. Overview of Calculating Carbon with tool workflow “the How”- Brad Jacobson (10 min)
6. Q&A with Panelists (30 min)
7. Call to Action
8. Office Hours

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Who supports the COTE Network?

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Call for 2026 COTE Network Volunteers

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We need you!

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3 year term / commitment. Past local COTE Chairs are ideal candidates.

We meet 1x a month for a check in and host quarterly calls.

Please reach out to us if you would like to volunteer with the Network

please email Sean and / or Beth at scostello@dhae.com & bbrant@dsgn.com

COTE Network Calls

Mark your calendars!

Q1

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Q2

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Q3

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Q4

Open Office Hours following each Quarterly Call

3:00-3:30 PM EST

04/21 - COTE Spotlight

08/11 - CARBON + ACTION

11/10 - Chapter Updates

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02/03 - Chapter Updates

2026 Schedule:

Quarterly Calls are from 2:00 - 3:00 EST

Register here!

COTE Network – 2026 Quarterly Calls

2026 DATES:

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COTE BOOK TALK

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10 December 2026 / 12-1pm ET

A Moratorium on New Construction (Sternberg Press Critical Practice Series, 2025) + available from Bookshop and MIT Press

• Register to join: link coming in October
• Author: Charlotte Malterre-Barthes, architect, urban designer, and Assistant Professor of Architectural and Urban Design at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne
• Review (coming): Arathi Gowda, FAIA, AICP, LEED AP BD+C, Perkins&Will, and chair, US Architects Declare
• Host: AIA District of Columbia COTE
• Sponsor: Quinn Evans
• Recording: coming after event

COTE LinkedIN

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Please invite your local COTE members to follow!

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You’ll find: Direct links to COTE News, Community Hub posts, Top Ten project spotlights, pertinent AIA news, etc.

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Please tag AIA COTE and we will reshare your posts as appropriate.

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The LinkedIn COTE group is still active, too!

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AIA National Updates

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Q3 COTE Network Call

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AIA Commitment to Disaster Risk Reduction & Resilience

Climate Action and Design Excellence - Events & education

Grounded in the UN Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, this commitment will help firms design buildings and spaces that protect communities before disaster strikes and support recovery when it does. It will provide a foundation for action, encourage dialogue, and will be accompanied by implementation guidance, resources, and outcome tracking tools.

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We're in active development and want to hear from members, firms, and partners before the commitment is finalized. Review the draft language and share your feedback!

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AIA Commitment to Disaster Risk Reduction & Resilience | The American Institute of Architects

AIA COTE® Top Ten Award

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Climate Action and Design Excellence - Events & education

Top Ten Professional

• August 28: Submissions open!
• September 2: COTE Top Ten DDx OOH
• October 6: COTE Top Ten DDx OOH
• November 3: Submissions close

Top Ten for Students

• Fall 2026: Winners announced

AIA Pledge Programs

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Climate Action and Design Excellence - Events & education

• AIA's Climate Action Pledge Programs: Return on Investment for Firms | A&D Materials Pledge Signatories

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• Circularity articles
• Embedding circularity in your design process
• Strategies for embedding circular materials in your process
• Circular material case studies and resources

Education & events

Climate Action and Design Excellence - Events & education

• September | National Preparedness Month
• September 13-15 | AIA Aspire Asheville NC Conference
• September 20-27 | Climate Week NYC
• September 23-25 | ASHRAE Building Decarbonization Conference (WA)
• October | Archtober NYC
• October 8 | Net Zero Conference L.A.
• October 20-23 | Greenbuild NYC
• November 1-3 | AIA Women’s Leadership Summit

Climate Action Events

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https://calendar.smartsheet.com/calendars/published/29bf4353-f6c8-45ce-bb3e-5b573f0ce4d4

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Post about upcoming events in your area on AIA’s Community Hub!

Education & events

Climate Action and Design Excellence - Events & education

AIAU live courses

• September 3: Leveraging AI for Resilient Design
• September 16-17: Safety Assessment Program Training
• September 24: Architect's Role in Disaster Risk Reduction (link tbd!)
• November 18-19: Safety Assessment Program Training

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Resources

• Definitions for building performance | The American Institute of Architects

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• LFRT's Guide to Carbon Neutrality for Architecture Firms

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Climate Action Events

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https://calendar.smartsheet.com/calendars/published/29bf4353-f6c8-45ce-bb3e-5b573f0ce4d4

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Post about upcoming events in your area on AIA’s Community Hub!

Welcome Panelists! Carbon + Action

Brad Jacobson FAIA, LEED AP, Co-founder of C.Scale

Brad Jacobson, FAIA, is an architect and co-founder of C.Scale, a data platform and whole building life cycle assessment tool used by building professionals to decarbonize buildings from concept through construction. Brad delivered many net zero projects for 22 years at EHDD Architecture, including the AIA Top Ten-award winning headquarters for The David and Lucile Packard Foundation and YouTube’s LEED Platinum mass timber campus in San Bruno, CA. Today, Brad and C.Scale are enabling climate action on every project, by every design team, everywhere.

Daniel Overbey AIA, NCARB, LEED Fellow, LEED AP (BD+C, ID+C, O+M), WELL AP, EcoDistricts AP, Fitwel Ambassador, Associate Principal and Director of Sustainability with Browning Day, and Associate Professor of Architecture at Ball State University’s R. Wayne Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning. His work focuses on high-performance and zero net energy/zero net carbon building design and construction, environmental systems research, energy/life cycle assessment modeling, and resilient design. Daniel has over twenty years of experience in research, teaching, and practice and currently serves as the Co-chair of the AIA 2030 Commitment Working Group.

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Daniel Jaconetti AIA, LFA, LEED AP, Principal and National Sustainable Design Leader at HED, AIA Large Firm Round Table Sustainability Committee Co-Chair

Daniel is leading a cultural transformation, raising the performance floor for all projects across a large, diverse firm. He currently serves on CCADE, was on COTE LG 24-26 and is Co-chair of AIA Chicago COTE/2030 KC and the Large Firm Roundtable sustainability committee. A board member of AIA Chicago 26-28, he passionately educates and advocates for mainstreaming environmental justice and refocusing the practice of architecture on regenerative, high-performance design.

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Current Carbon Tracking Trends in the DDx*

Wednesday, August 11, 2026

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* Data subject to change prior to publishing the final report.

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Daniel Overbey

2025 COTE® Top Ten winner Irving Institute for Energy and Society, Photo: Above Summit LLC

AIA 2030 Commitment

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The AIA 2030 Commitment is an actionable climate strategy that gives us a set of standards and goals for reaching net zero emissions in the built environment.

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AIA 2030 Commitment data: 2025 at a Glance

3.4 billion

Total GSF�

24,287

Projects

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456

Firms

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114

Countries

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48%

pEUI Reduction�

67%

Whole-building GSF with �an energy model

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527

Predicted net zero energy�projects

2,642

Projects with�renewable energy

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1,895

Projects reported�embodied carbon

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Source: AIA 2030 RY19 to RY25 reporting data

Source: AIA 2030 RY19 to RY25 reporting data

Source: AIA 2030 RY19 to RY25 reporting data

Source: AIA 2030 RY19 to RY25 reporting data

3 independent “levers”

1

Maintain a focus on energy efficiency and pEUI

Keep benchmarking pEUI as a primary gauge of energy efficiency and ensure that reduction must stay central to design practice.

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Incentivize total carbon metrics

Encourage fuel source reporting to make electrification trackable. Track combined contributions of efficiency, electrification, and grid mix.

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Expand embodied carbon reporting

Extend beyond structures & enclosures to include site, interiors, mechanical systems, and construction activity.

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Realign baselines

Update baselines to current performance. Transform DDx from a historical archive into an active goal-setting tool for live projects.

2030 is a waypoint, not a finish line.

2030 and BEYOND

Total carbon reporting is the future.

Data-Driven�Decarbonization

Image courtesy EHDD Architecture

Brad Jacobson FAIA, LEED AP

brad@cscale.io

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Regulatory drivers are spotty

California, Minnesota, Boston, Vancouver, and a few others are pulling firms forward

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Data gaps at the edges

Regional EPD variation, missing material categories (MEP, FF&E), and lack of whole building benchmarks creates friction

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Culture change is hard

Getting people to not only care but change habits is not easy and takes time

Roadblocks to scaling carbon assessments across practice

What 200+ architecture firms are saying

Tool and data fragmentation

No single tool spans the full project lifecycle, forcing manual quantity input and emission factor translation at transitions

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Knowledge gap

LCA is siloed in 1–2 sustainability staff; tools often built for consultants; even when teams can run analysis they can't translate results

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Costs of software and time-to-value

Per-seat license costs add up; workflow needs to be lightweight and scalable to become a standard practice

So much action happens in the early innings

Win the Project

Regulatory Submission

Design the Project

Verify Emissions

Project�Proposal

Project�Completion

Project�Construction

Design Development

Schematic

Design

Construction

Documents

C.Scale fills in gaps to enable impactful decisions all along

Project�Proposal

Project�Completion

Project�Construction

Design Development

Schematic

Design

Construction

Documents

Win the Project

Regulatory Submission

Design the Project

Verify Emissions

Predicted Data

Carbon Clarity from Concept to Construction

Case Study: standardizing analysis across projects

• All projects start in C.Scale, utilizing a customized template that builds “AIA 2030-compliant” and “aggressive carbon reductions” scenarios.

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• All projects pin-up an 11x17 performance snapshot including a C.Scale-generated comparison bar chart, ensuring that all projects are doing carbon assessment.

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Case Study: modeling embodied carbon on all projects

"C.Scale made it possible to apply this analysis more broadly. Many tools require detailed inputs that are difficult to maintain across every project. With C.Scale, we are able to generate a baseline, test scenarios, and identify where the biggest impacts sit — and focus attention on major drivers rather than chase precision that wouldn't change decisions."

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Ned Reifenstein, Director of Sustainable Design, Noll & Tam

• Tracking embodied carbon on 100% of their projects in 2024 and 2025. Reported to AIA 2030 Commitment
• Patterns emerged to shape design thinking:
• refrigerants are big
• landscape area for sequestration
• renovation consistently outperforming
• The next step is moving this upstream — so carbon shapes decisions

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AIA 2030 reporting: a la carte or in bulk

Alpha phase active now

Why do we love Tally so much?

Tally has deep data on assemblies

Tally's deep assembly library helps ensure that concrete has rebar, walls have vapor barrier, and roofs have roof covering.

Tally is by and for designers

Tally understands that BIM is far from perfect, and can interpret design and material intent from partial information.

Tally is battle-tested

Tally has been used in tens of thousands of assessments, and the 2.0 version has been shaped by the high volume of feedback this has generated.

Tally 2.0 Integration: maintain fidelity with your BIM model

Full release January 2027

Tally

C.Scale

BIM-integrated workflow and detailed quantity surveying

Web-based project tracking, collaboration, and reporting

Project starts in C.Scale

Design Iteration

Data exchange between �Tally and C.Scale

Review, collaborate, and report

Design Iteration

Design Iteration

Design iteration

Link C.Scale project to BIM model(s)

Portfolio-wide �impact tracking

Manage material mapping and non-modeled elements with two-way exchange

Manage quantity surveying and material mapping in the BIM environment

Pre-BIM (and post-BIM) workflows on the web

C.Scale attaches project metadata to BIM

Collaboration and peer review with principals, clients, and contractors

Build internal benchmarks and improve future predictions

Track submittals against carbon goals

Coordinate with contractors and subs to defend the specs

An Integrated LCA Workflow (rejoice!)

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Carbon + Action Q&A

Brad Jacobson FAIA, LEED AP Co-founder of C.Scale,

Advisory Principal at EHDD

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Daniel Overbey

AIA, NCARB, LEED Fellow, LEED AP (BD+C, ID+C, O+M), WELL AP, EcoDistricts AP, Fitwel Amb.,

Associate Principal and Director of Sustainability with Browning Day

Associate Professor of Architecture at Ball State University’s R. Wayne Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning

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Daniel Jaconetti

AIA, LFA, LEED AP Principal and National Sustainable Design Leader at HED,

AIA Large Firm Round Table Sustainability Committee Co-Chair

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Carbon + Action

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CALL to ACTION

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Measure. Reduce. Advocate. Together, we can accelerate carbon-conscious design and climate leadership nationwide.

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Carbon + Action

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CALL to ACTION…please go back to your COTE chapter and advocate/educate others on…

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• If you calculate embodied carbon for a project, report it to the ddx
• Ask firms to commit to outlining a path to zero emissions for every project / share with client

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New to COTE?

Seeking feedback for your COTE Chapter?

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Feel free to Stay for Office Hours!

from now to 3:30pm EST

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COTE Network Spotlight Program

National COTE Leadership Group

We want to hear from you!

Share your stories HERE.

Call for Submissions: We’re seeking examples of programs, initiatives, and advocacy efforts led by your group that have made a meaningful impact in advancing sustainable design excellence.

What to Include:

• Tangible results from programs implemented in 2025
• Clear alignment with the Framework for Design Excellence.

Goal: Elevate and amplify the impactful work of local COTE groups. Submissions will be featured throughout 2026 to showcase leadership nationwide.

Logistics:

• Takes about ~20 minutes to submit
• Submit as many examples as you’d like
• Deadline: December 31, 2025

Groups we highlighted in 2025:

Break-COTE Network Spotlight Program

National COTE Leadership Group

We’re excited to share even more stories in 2026 and beyond: but we need your submissions!

Please take a few minutes to complete the form by 12/31 and help us showcase your impact.

2025 Chapter Updates &

2026 Goals

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AIA Arkansas COTE

COTE Network Quarterly Call

DUSTIN DAVIS

AIA ARKANSAS SUSTAINABILITY CHAIR

2024 UPDATE:

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BUILDING TOURS:

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• ANTHONY TIMBERLANDS CENTER FOR DESIGN AND MATERIALS INNOVATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

• ASSISTED WITH FAY SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE FIRST COTE STUDENT PARTICIPATION SPRING 2024

THANKS TO PROFESSOR DAVID KENNEDY (3RD YEAR STUDIO)

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2025 PLANS:

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• RECRUIT MORE SUSTAINABILITY MEMBERS

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• BUILDING TOURS IN BOTH NWA AND CENTRAL ARKANSAS

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• ONLINE SESSION ON THE AIA GLOBAL CAMPUS FOR ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN

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• ASSISTED WITH FAY SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE COTE STUDENT PARTICIPATION SPRING 2025

AIA Atlanta

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Austin COTE

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Austin COTE - 1st Thursday; 5:30pm to 6:30pm

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2024 Programming

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Chair: Ekta Khuller

Chair Elect: Maria Berrios

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• Continue to collaborate with other organizations within AIA Austin. (CRANE, HOmes Tour etc.) and external organizations.
• Organize a couple of building tours highlighting sustainable design features
• A round table discussion on the AIA 2030 Commitment submission
• Urban Green Walk

Upcoming Events 2024

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AIA Arizona

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA Arizona

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Baltimore

2025 RECAP

Great programs!

Legislative recap, Getting to zero book event

New Co-Chair

2026 GOALS

Recruitment, recruitment, who cracked the code?

AIA Baltimore

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Brooklyn COTE

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Buffalo/Western NY COTE

COTE Network Quarterly Call

2025 Highlights

• Mass Timber Symposium: 4 speakers, 3 time zones, 150+ registrants. Thanks to Barbara Campagna, Susan Jones, Merritt Bucholz, and Bill Richards!
• Construction Tours: Members want to see real projects!
• Collaborated with PHIUS Alliance New York for tour of PH housing project
• Walking tour of new Ralph Wilson Park

Goals for 2026:

• More ContEd: Building tours, guest speakers, virtual and in-person.
• Quarterly happy hours on the solstices & equinoxes
• Collaborations:
• Supporting events by our neighboring Upstate NY COTEs.
• Co-hosting with other local allied organizations: Bird-Friendly Buffalo seminar with Buffalo Audubon Society & University at Buffalo (May 2026)
• More engagement with Emerging Professionals & students

AIA California

COTE Network Quarterly Call

2024 Climate Action Operating Plan Highlights

Advocacy

• Collaborate and strengthen relationships with State Agencies and organizations to continue to push for building decarbonization advances for the next code cycle and encourage adaptive reuse
• Advance embodied carbon and water conservation policies statewide, both locally and at State level

Education

• Prepare courses for Zero Net Carbon Design Continuing Education
• Continue to provide content to the Climate Action Webinar Series
• Advance the knowledge base of resilient design through webinars, articles, and resource sharing

Communications

• Continue to advance sustainability as an essential element of design excellence in our design awards programs
• Continue to issue new What Can You Do Now articles that include actionable items architects can take to advance decarbonization, and how they can talk to clients and different audiences about building sustainability

AIA California Climate Action 2023-2024 Agenda/Work Plan

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The Climate Action page on the AIA CA website that gives an overview of the Committee and the Steering Committee leadership

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AIA CA Climate Action supporting the AIA CA Strategic Plan

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Addressing embodied carbon through policy and advocacy in CALGreen

Upcoming CALGreen Embodied Carbon 4-part Series in partnership with SEAOC

AIA Central Oklahoma COTE

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Central Oklahoma

2026 Goals

• Continue with OSU mentorship. OU could benefit from a similar program
• Continue OU D7 Awards jury
• Participate in the next Chit Chat – 10 COTE Prinicples
• Liaison from this committee with AIACOC Design Excellence Awards Committee
• Summer Solstice Social – Bell and McCoy will host
• Architecture Week - visibility, public facing. Give a presentation about what architects do

• Do the April OKC Beautiful. [Michael and Sarah are scheduled for the April 8^th Social Hour]·
• Somehow provide the membership about with simple information about sustainability choices. It could be a resource page, one or presentation s from suppliers and consultants.
• OUBCC - technical committee
• Roam the Dome [April 7^th – save the date]
• Interface with children or schools?
• Infrared camera projectsolar power.

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Resilience HSW “Cocktails and Credits” at a member firm

CLT HSW “Lunch & Learn” and Tour at a CLT project by Gensler Dallas

COTE Technical Review HSW “Cocktails and Credits” with Dr. Fithian

AIA Central Valley

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA Central Valley

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Charlotte COTE

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Chattanooga COTE

COTE Network Quarterly Call

2025

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• Initiated monthly COTE meetings
• Generated a mission statement and guiding principles
• Held a COTE event (a “walking panel discussion”/tour) as part of AIA Chattanooga Design Discourse focused on sustainable strategies in parks, including stakeholders from City of Chattanooga Sustainability and Green Infrastructure departments as well as a local firm and a UTC professor

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2026

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• Joining forces with the Programming Committee to provide content aligning with one of the Framework for Design Excellence Principles each month
• Working with local COTE leaders across the state to participate as a state-wide knowledge community and hold an event at AIATN Conference in August
• Hold monthly COTE meetings at a different office each month to stoke participation one firm at a time

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AIA Cincinnati

2025 RECAP

Sept 26-Oct 10: Ice Box Challenge at Cincinnati Homearama

• Ice in Code standard box melted in 10 days
• 345 lbs of ice left in Passive House box at the end of day 14!
• 31 volunteers
• 13,000 Homearama visitors
• 800 engagements

Tour of local adaptive reuse project.

Facilitated Historic Masonry Retrofits webinar by 475 Building Supply.

• 37 attendees

2026 GOALS

Passive House roundtable discussion

Kicks-off applications to receive scholarship for Passive House training.

3 tours of local sustainable projects

2 knowledge sharing / page-turn events

Present experience from Ice Box Challenge at Midwest Sustainability Summit

Plan local COTE awards program

AIA Cincinnati

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Cleveland

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA Cleveland

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Colorado COTE

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Connecticut

2025 RECAP

Several programs including:

-Net Zero public projects panel, followed by tours of two projects

-Collaboration with local BP&R Community on energy code updates and paths to compliance

-Rating systems evolution

2026 GOALS

Plans for this year include:

-A series on digital tools to help with sustainable design

-Programs focused embodied carbon and LCA

-Additional tours

-Innovations in mass timber

-Possibly restarting advocacy efforts

AIA Connecticut

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA DC COTE

COTE Network Quarterly Call

2024 Co-Chairs

Patrick Keeney, AIA, CPHC, LEED AP O+M

WSP

Kevin McNulty, AIA, NCARB, LEED Green Assoc., Fitwell Ambassador

Gensler

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Recap of 2024 Events

February Design, DC Climate Crisis & Responsive Design

March Committee Meeting hosted by ZGF

→ First ever Friend of the Committee, Atelier Ten SF on embodied carbon policy/standards

April Panel with Emerging Architects Committee (EAC)

May Committee Meeting hosted by Arup

→ Presentation on DC Green Building Advisory Council

June AIA Conference booth

July House tour of Adelaide Alley house from BLDUS

July Committee Meeting hosted by TortiGallas

→ Presentation on Passive House

August Meet-Up with SE2050 at Walter P Moore’s office

→ Presentation by SE2050 Embodied Carbon targets

September Participated in the Committee Open House night at the DAC

November Tri-COTE event

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2025 RECAP

-Women of Carbon film screening at Wayne State University

-Detroit Architectural Walking Tour

-LEED v5 seminar w/ USGBC Michigan

-Garden Party Fundraiser & Networking event

-Green Circle networking events with local organizations (USGBC, Detroit 2030, etc.)

2026 GOALS

-Continued collaboration with local organizations

-Enhanced engagement with membership and affiliates

-Focus on carbon and adoption of mass timber in Michigan

-Support ongoing dialogue regarding data center development and resource use.

AIA Detroit

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COTE Network Quarterly Call

Anna Anderson

Cody Hansen

Chris Heine

AIA East Bay

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA East Bay

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COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA East Bay

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA East Bay

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COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Grand Rapids

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA Grand Rapids

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Honolulu COTE

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Houston COTE

COTE Network Quarterly Call

2024 Recap

2025 Vision

• Gulf Coast Green - Wild by Design
• 2030 Commitment
• Survey of Houston Participation
• Small Firm Roundtable Workshop to sign up more firms

• Gulf Coast Green - Symbiotic Resilience
• 03/28/2025
• Houston Adoption of 2021 ICC Codes - Focus on education regarding changes in the IECC
• Partner with other committees to extend our reach:
• Advocacy & Permitting for Bird Safe Architecture
• BEC for Building Envelop CEU
• JEDI Collective

AIA Indiana

2026 RECAP

2030 Reporting Webinar - February 18th, XX attendees

Strong Towns Webinar - July 21st, XX attendees

AIA IN COTE Awards - June 17

AIA Indiana

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Inland Empire Chapter

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA Inland Empire Chapter

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Kansas City

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA Kansas City

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Las Vegas

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA Las Vegas

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COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Long Beach / South Bay

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA Long Beach / South Bay

COTE Network Quarterly Call

COTE Network Q4

Leadership & Organization

• Monthly COTE Meetings and Event Calendar
• Themes of Water and Resilience
• Sponsors: Perkins & Will, HKS
• New Chapter COTE Mission Statement
• Leadership for 2026 Announced

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AIA Dallas - COTE

Advocacy & Policy

• Further coordination with City of Dallas CECAP Initiative
• AIA Framework for Design Excellence as guiding principles

Professional Development

• LU Courses offered at most monthly meetings
• Tours of Sustainable Projects
• Advocacy of Common App in Chapter Design Awards
• Living Building Challenge
• PHIUS

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Events & Community Engagement

• GREEN+ Mentoring Program for projects in lower income areas to attain Green certifications
• Tour of Southstone Yards and Mass Timber LU Presentation
• Increased recruitment through events and outreach
• Net Zero Water -Texas Water Trade
• Tour of Halperin Deck Park
• COTE Blog

Mission Statement:

The Committee on the Environment (COTE) serves as a conduit for Architects and allied professionals in understanding of planning and design practices impacting the public and the environment.

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It seeks to promote - healthy buildings, energy optimization and preservation of natural resources through thoughtful design. The committee values public discourse and stakeholder involvement in a range of issues from planning, development and construction to policy and social justice.

David Stewart LEED AP, BD+C - Chair 2025

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Joseph Boring CPHC, LFA, LEED AP, BD+C & O+M, WELL AP - Vice Chair 2025

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AIA Maine

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA Maine

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Middle Tennessee

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA Middle Tennessee

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Minnesota

AIA Minnesota

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Mississippi COTE

COTE Network Quarterly Call

2025 ACTIVITIES:

• Monthly meetings including a guest speaker sharing something COTE related they are doing for first 20 minutes each time
• Three webinars
• The Framework for Design Excellence was incorporated into our awards and two inaugural COTE awardees selected
• COTE Sponsored speaker at AIA MS Convention
• Co-chairs are Emily Roush-Elliott, Delta DB, and John Ross, Mississippi State University.

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2026 PLANS:

• Duplicate 2025! +
• Further integrate the F4DE into the AIA Mississippi awards application process
• Celebrate Allison Anderson's book (Thanks Kira for sharing the invite in the chat to her upcoming AIA NC webinar)
• Complete a GIMBY (Green In My BackYard) survey of AIA MS members to demonstrate that sustainable and resilient activities are happening in Mississippi
• Take pictures to add to next year's presentation

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AIA Monterey Bay

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA Monterey Bay

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA New Hampshire

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA New Hampshire

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA New Jersey

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA New Jersey

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA New Orleans COTE

HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2025:

ADVOCACY AND POLICY ENGAGEMENT:

• City of New Orleans Energy Benchmarking Ordinance: AIA New Orleans COTE members played a key role in shaping the ordinance, participating in stakeholder workshops and a technical working group to refine the legislation. They partnered closely with the AIA New Orleans Advocacy Committee to build support among city officials and council members.
• Energy Code Implementation: The Energy working group launched a series of training sessions and resources, including a simplified compliance template, to assist both practitioners and code officials. They also organized roundtables with both city officials and design professionals to explore opportunities for improved implementation. In partnership with the AIA Advocacy Committee, the group hosted a training session for city staff on enforcement strategies and participated in a mayoral forum to elevate the conversation around energy code compliance and accountability.

SPECIALIZED WORKING GROUPS:Our committees dive deep into critical topics including:

• Healthy Materials selection and specification
• Energy efficiency strategies for our subtropical climate
• Energy Code training and enforcement strategies

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING:

• BIOPHILIA & ECOLOGY CEU: COTE hosted a CEU with Tulane University, presented by Liz Calabrese, to discuss how architects can incorporate biophilic principles into their work.

GOALS FOR 2026

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RISING 2026

• Our signature Rising Conference is a comprehensive multi-day symposium that brings together local and national experts to address the intersection of climate action and social equity. This conference provides architects and allied professionals with practical tools and strategies for creating truly sustainable and equitable design.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING:

• Healthy Materials 101 CEU: What to Know, Do, & Say to Implement Healthy, Equitable, & Sustainable Materials
• Solar Alternatives CEU

ENERGY CODE ENFORCEMENT

• Continue to work with building departments to encourage Energy Code Enforcement

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AIA North Carolina

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA North Carolina

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA North Carolina Triangle

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA North Carolina Triangle

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Orange County

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA Orange County

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Pennsylvania

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA Pennsylvania

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Philadelphia COTE

Philadelphia

2024 Chapter Updates

2025 Goals

• Low Carbon Assemblies series including speaker events and exhibit
• Spring into action included Council member and Kimberly Dowdell
• Speakers at monthly meetings
• Walking tour at FDR Park
• Happy Hour

• Small Scale, Big Impact - new series focused on residential/ small-scale construction
• Spring into Action Day
• Speakers at monthly meeting
• Code Updates
• Resiliency
• Material Selection
• Collaborative event with Drexel University students and students from Milan
• Group tour to Edelman Fossil Park
• Collaboration with other organizations like Preservation Alliance & Green Building United

AIA San Diego

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA San Diego

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Pittsburgh

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA Pittsburgh

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Savannah, Hilton Head, and Charleston

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA Savannah, Hilton Head, and Charleston (Lowcountry Chapter)

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Seattle COTE

COTE Network Quarterly Call

2025 Events

Book Talk: Brook Muller

Earth Day Sustainability Slam

Knowledge Sharing: District Energy

Knowledge Sharing: Passive House Library

Knowledge Sharing: Seattle Energy Code

Building Tour: UW Founders Hall

Volunteering: Green Seattle Day

Happy Hour: Joint with local IBPSA chapter

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Upcoming Events

2/17 - Chemicals of Concern - Chris Hellstern

3/17 - Social Equity in Sustainability - Gladys Ly-Au Young

4/22 - Earth Day Sustainability Slam

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2025/2026 Co-Chairs

Megan Greenfield - cote@aiaseattle.org

Michael Helmer - cote@aiaseattle.org

AIA Silicon Valley

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA Silicon Valley

COTE Network Quarterly Call

Texas Society of Architects

COTE Network Quarterly Call

2026 Goals

• Two Part 2030 Webinar
• Common App Open Hours
• Connecting with local Texas chapters
• TXA Conference Presentation
• TBD..

2026 Chair: Kate Sector Gregg (ksector@lakeflato.com)

2025 Accomplishments

• Common App Data Analysis
• TXA Presentation
• Edits to TXA design awards
• Materials Pledge Webinar

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https://lnkd.in/edH-gkmT

https://lnkd.in/ebjMaHRS

2026 Goals

• Two Part 2030 Webinar
• Common App Open Hours
• Connecting with local Texas chapters
• TXA Conference Presentation
• TBD..

2026 Chair: Kate Sector Gregg

Links:

Earth Week 2026 - Texas Society of Architects

Sessions went great!

New Design Award Requirements:

Happening Now:

Applied for two TXA conference submissions:

• Designing Outside the Box: Water in Texas
• From Talk to Tools: Turning Sustainability Tools into Everyday Practice
• Also, Want to do a COTE meet up

In San Antonio!!

October 15-17, 2026

Requires common app summary

AIA South Carolina COTE

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Southern New York

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA Southern New York

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA St. Louis

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA St. Louis

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Tampa Bay

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA St. Louis

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Utah

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA Utah

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Virginia COTE

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA VIRGINIA COTE

2025 Efforts

• Knowledge Community Grant
• Building Reuse and Decarbonization Webinar Series
• COTE Coffee (Architecture Exchange East)

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2026 Goals

• Resilient Building tours w/ elected leaders - One in each component!
• Sustainability Summit

AIA Westchester Hudson Valley COTE

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Western Massachusetts

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA Western Massachusetts

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Western North Carolina

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA Western North Carolina

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Winston Salem

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA Western North Carolina

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Wisconsin

2025 RECAP

2026 GOALS

AIA Wisconsin

COTE Network Quarterly Call

COTE Chairs that previously presented at Q4 call in Nov. 2025

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AIA Oregon COTE

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Oregon COTE

COTE Network Quarterly Call

2025

AIA New York

2025 RECAP

• Highlighted event: Circularity Symposium
• Highlighted publication: Building Decarbonization Action plan for New York City (policy platform for incoming mayoral administration)
• Advocacy with NY State legislators on three embodied carbon bills

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2026 GOALS

• February 2026 event: “Digitally Enabled Decarbonization: Exploring the Expanding Role of Digital Technologies in Reducing Carbon Emissions at Scale
• Compiling and publishing case studies of float glass circularity from demo sites
• Developing a game plan for Climate Week NYC and Greenbuild (in NYC!)

AIA New York

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA New Mexico COTE

COTE Network Quarterly Call

2025 Updates�

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Leadership & Organization

• Monthly COTE meetings established
• Google Docs file-sharing system created
• Core Values workshops completed and published
• New COTE logo
• Officer roles, terms, and conduct rules developed
• Monthly COTE Newsletter launched

MISSION STATEMENT�

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The New Mexico Committee on the Environment’s mission is to advance sustainability across New Mexico’s AEC sector by fostering outreach, education, policy advocacy, and community engagement.

Advocacy & Policy

• Tracked and engaged on NM Senate & House bills
• Participated in interim session planning
• Advocacy on Executive Orders 2006-001 & 2019-003
• Supported PHIUS QAP advocacy initiatives
• Submitted response to DOE climate change statements

Education & Professional Development

• Building science course with SF HBA, ECO HS, SFCC, Habitat, Youthworks
• LEED tour & APS presentation at Arroyo del Oso Elementary
• Curriculum collaboration with NM Black Leadership Council
• Partnership with UNM student sustainability group
• Design With Climate Charette with ASHRAE

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Events & Community Engagement

• Tabled at UNM Sustainability Fair
• Ice Box Challenge Santa Fe (partnerships, tiny homes, student education)
• CNM Box Challenge demo
• Increased recruitment through events and outreach
• • Improved public visibility and alignment with AIA NM/ABQ
• Biomimicry Nature Walk

AIA Los Angeles COTE

2025 Recap

• 2026 Chairs
• Casey Castor, Assoc. AIA (Vice Chair)
• Esmeralda Ward, AIA, LEED AP
• Events + Collaborations
• 9th Annual 1.5°C Symposium on Climate Change
• Theme: Designing Impact: Climate Solutions Across People, Practice, and Projects
• April 17th, 2026 - Loyola Law School Campus (TBD)
• Volunteer Days-Of-Service
• Goals
• Strengthen Community Partnerships
• Highlight Southern California Climate Action Heros
• Advocate for Resilient Design Strategies
• Host continuing education opportunities, guest speakers, and sustainable building tours.
• Support other COTE Chapters with their initiatives & programming

2026 Goals

• 2025 Chairs
• Brendan Bailey, AIA (Chair)
• Casey Castor, Assoc. AIA (Vice Chair)
• Events + Collaborations
• 8th Annual 1.5°C Symposium on Climate Change
• Theme: 55 Years of Earth Day, Where do we Stand?
• April 18th, 2025 - LADWP John Ferraro Building
• Volunteer Day-Of-Service: DENA Wildfire Relief Drive
• Pasadena Church, Pasadena, CA
• Sustainable Building Tours: Solar Futures House (Woodbury 3D Printed Case Study), CT-7 Mass Timber Creative Office Campus, Net Zero Institute
• “Refrigeration Code Changes: What Designers Need to Know” Technical Panel @ Buro Happold
• NetZero Conference: Community Partner
• Greenbuild International Conference and Expo 2025
• Goals
• Strengthen Community Partnerships
• Highlight Southern California Climate Action Heros
• Advocate for Resilient Design Strategies
• Host continuing education opportunities, guest speakers, and sustainable building tours.

COTE Network Quarterly Call

2025 AIA ETN COTE

• Knowledge, Agency, and Implementation
• (4) quarters taking a more granular look into Water/Ecology, Urban Infrastructure/Transportation, Energy/Carbon, and Wellness.
• Hosted Total Carbon Modeling Workshop w/ 70 attendees�

2026 GOALS

• Continue Knowledge, Agency, and Implementation
• Bolster firm 2030 participation / integral process
• Focus on Materials Pledge
• couple w/ biogenic local materials research
• Tours and study of completed local environmentally aspirational work

AIA East Tennessee COTE

Cameron S. Bolin

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Melissa Hatchett

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Taylor Eisenhower

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AIA Columbus COTE

COTE Network Quarterly Call

City of Columbus Healthy Buildings Advisory Group:

• Supporting the City through multiple AIA members attending a series of 4 workshops

2026 Plans:

• Passive House Design
• Reframing Sustainability to focus more on Resiliency. Same goals, different approaches to deal with the current political narratives.

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2024-2025 Chair

Howard Blaisdell, AIA, LEED AP,

Associate Principal, Project Manager

Moody Nolan

2025 Activities:

• Business Case for Sustainability
• Low Carbon Concrete Seminar (May)
• Green Gatherings

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AIA Chicago COTE

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Central NY COTE

COTE Network Quarterly Call

Leadership: Dylan MK Smith, AIA COTE Chair, Co-founder

What does it mean to practice architecture in Central NY: 2025?

Architects play a critical role in catalyzing the building industry by advancing

carbon-neutral projects, products, policies, initiatives, research, and education.

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Our Chapter seeks meaningful, sustained progress in addressing the industry’s

footprint as a primary contributing source of operational and embodied carbon

and reducing vulnerability to the climate crisis.

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Promote climate action.

• Mitigating the sources
• Adapting to the impacts
• Galvanizing architects to act

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Encourage public-private-academic partnerships.

• Resilience in the Built Environment Workshop Series (NYSERDA)
• Support local and state governments and communities they serve
• Understand gaps due to federal policy changes

Agricultural and Clean Energy Technology Center | SUNY Morrisville | SWBR

2025 AIACNY COTE Award Winner

Celebrate sustainable design excellence.

AIACNY COTE Award included in 2025 Celebration of Architecture

Submissions must use Common App

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AIACNY COTE Certificate added to the program this year

Three (3) projects recognized by the jury from the general submission pool for incorporating thoughtful and effective environmental, social, and technological strategies

AIA Boston COTE

COTE Network Quarterly Call

2025 BSA COTE Events

Total Carbon & Engineering

Nov 12, 2025

Noon

Virtual

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Patrick Murphy, Vanderweil

Suzanne Robinson, LeMessurier

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BSA COTE

Sustainability Education Committee

BEC Building Enclosure Council

CLF Carbon Leadership Forum

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Book Talk

Aug 26 2025

Virtual

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Nico Larco, AIA

Mayor Kaarin Knudson, AIA

Prof. Timothy Beatley

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Kira Gould

BSA COTE

studioDSK

AIA Materials Pledge

Earth Day

April 22 2025

Virtual

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Nereyda Rodriguez, MDS Architects

Jodie Thill, Flad Architects

Amy Latva-Kokko, studioDSK

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BSA COTE

Daylighting

September 24, 2025

5:30-7pm

Virtual

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Dan Stein, Lake | Flato

Peter Herman, Ellenzweig

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BSA COTE

Sustainability Education Committee

BEC Building Enclosure Council

RUG Revit Users Group

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AIA Asheville COTE

COTE Network Quarterly Call

AIA Asheville COTE

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2024 Programming

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Co-Chairs: Emily Coleman-Wolf and Jenny Heim

Members: Cynthia Turner, Devon Hutton, Betsy Del Monte, Carrie Schulz, Christina Roush, Tanya de Leon

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• Expanded programs by hosting a monthly AIA Asheville Section meeting. The focus was the AIA 2030 Commitment, with a roundtable discussion. Four local firms participated to talk about their involvement and process.
• Organized several happy hours to bring interested AIA members together in a social and informal setting.
• Annual Climate Symposium (our 10th year!), partnering with the Aspire Conference, held in September.
• Hurricane Helene impact on Asheville and Western North Carolina - more to come in 2025.

COTE NETWORK

SPOTLIGHT

COTE NETWORK

SPOTLIGHT

Recognizing efforts in the following categories

COTE NETWORK

SPOTLIGHT

Advocacy

• AIA Baltimore COTE + AIA Maryland
• AIA New York COTE
• AIA Minnesota COTE

AIA Baltimore COTE + AIA Maryland

Advocated for and continue supporting implementation of Maryland’s landmark climate law by promoting energy benchmarking and stronger building performance standards.

AIA New York COTE

Developed and promoted a comprehensive building decarbonization action plan to guide New York City’s climate policy and serves as the foundation for ongoing advocacy efforts.

AIA Minnesota COTE

Advanced statewide sustainability policy by helping secure regular energy code updates and aligning stakeholders around energy efficiency and renewable strategies.

COTE NETWORK

SPOTLIGHT

Community Engagement

• AIA Honolulu COTE
• AIA Southeast COTE Collaborative*
• AIA Detroit COTE

*Southeast COTE Collaborative: AIA SC, AIA NC, AIA WTN, AIA WNC, AIA GA

AIA Honolulu COTE

Supports community resilience hubs across O‘ahu by integrating design expertise into partnerships that strengthen disaster preparedness and everyday community services.

AIA Southeast COTE Collaborative

Organized a hands-on riverbank cleanup and learning event that combined environmental restoration with education on resilient, site-specific design strategies.

AIA Detroit COTE

Hosted a film screening and discussion event to highlight leadership in decarbonization and foster dialogue on climate action within the design community.

COTE NETWORK

SPOTLIGHT

Education

• AIA San Francisco COTE
• AIA Buffalo/Western New York COTE
• AIA Houston COTE

AIA San Francisco COTE

Convened a full-day symposium to share tools, strategies, and case studies that advance climate-responsive design in professional practice.

AIA Buffalo / Western New York COTE

Led an educational panel on mass timber that engaged local professionals in exploring its design, environmental, and experiential benefits. Also a PHIUS Housing Tour

AIA Houston COTE

Hosts an annual conference focused on regional sustainability and resilience, providing practical insights tailored to Gulf Coast climate challenges.

COTE NETWORK

SPOTLIGHT

Hands-on Impact

• AIA Cincinnati COTE
• AIA New Mexico COTE
• AIA Seattle COTE

AIA Cincinnati COTE

Demonstrated passive house performance through an interactive Ice Box Challenge that made energy efficiency concepts accessible to a broad public audience.

AIA New Mexico COTE

Delivered a hands-on building science demonstration using housing prototypes while supporting workforce development and donating the structures for community use.

AIA Seattle COTE

Engaged members in urban tree-planting efforts to contribute to environmental restoration and strengthen connections with local sustainability initiatives.

COTE NETWORK

SPOTLIGHT

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CONGRATULATIONS!

BREAK-OUT SESSIONS

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Advocacy

• AIA Baltimore COTE + AIA Maryland
• AIA New York COTE
• AIA Minnesota COTE

Community Engagement

• AIA Honolulu COTE
• AIA Southeast COTE Collaborative
• AIA Detroit COTE

Education

• AIA San Francisco COTE
• AIA COTE Buffalo/Western New York
• AIA Houston COTE

Hands-on Impact

• AIA Cincinnati COTE
• AIA New Mexico COTE
• AIA Seattle COTE

HAPPY EARTH DAY

USA today: NASA astronaut Christina Koch, a mission specialist on Artemis II

AIA Pledge Programs

Climate Action and Design Excellence - AIA Pledge programs

• A&D Materials Pledge
• Apr 23: Last-minute questions
• Apr 30: Reporting Deadline

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• 2030 Committment
• Reporting closed
• Article: It is time for the 2030 Commitment to evolve.

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AIA COTE Top Ten

Climate Action and Design Excellence - AIA COTE Top Ten

• AIA / ACSA COTE Top Ten Student Competition
• Jun 3: Submission Deadline

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• Top Ten Professional
• Jun 2026, Winners announced at AIA26 Awards Gala

May 1 - Call for volunteers

Climate Action and Design Excellence - Call for volunteers

• Volunteer opportunities | The American Institute of Architects
• AIA 2030 Committment
• AIA Materials Pledge
• Building Performance
• CCADE - Committee on Climate Action and Design Excellence
• COTE - Committee on the Environment
• HRC - Historic Resources Committee
• RADR - Resilience and Disaster Response