Green & Mean: The Top Ten Energy-Efficient Green Projects

Enlarge Image Image Gallery Sleeping Lady Conference & Retreat Center Jones & Jones

This year, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and its Committee on the Environment (COTE) selected ten outstanding examples of green building efforts for national recognition. “The AIA/COTE Top Ten Awards program is designed to acknowledge exemplary green projects by U.S. architects that are both energy efficient and environmentally friendly,” explains COTE vice chairwoman Joyce Lee.

COTE collaborated with the U.S. Department of Energy this year and hopes to attract other agency and corporate support in the future.

To view the winning designs, log onto www.aia.org/pia/cote/topten.

AIA Top Ten

ABN-AMRO BANK WORLD HEADQUARTERS
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Pei Cobb Freed & Partners Architects
This pilot project for sustainable construction and management includes a climate wall, automated blinds, a heat recovery system, modern digital ­climate regulators, and light fixtures that adjust automatically to daylight and occupancy levels.

ADELINE STREET URBAN SALVAGE PROJECT
Berkeley, California Leger Wanaselja Architecture
This remodeling and salvaging project involving a century-old house and shop combines discarded auto parts and recycled materials with minimum amounts of new material.

DENVER REI FLAGSHIP
Denver, Colorado Mithun Architects + Partners
This remodel of the 1901 Denver Tramway Powerhouse Building, a designated historic landmark, ­utilizes evaporative cooling and is located on a major bike trail and a bus line.

BIGHORN HOME IMPROVEMENT CENTER
Silverthorne, Colorado Marketplace Architects
This building features the largest commercial photovoltaic array in the state and is the first retail center in Colorado to sell electricity produced over the amount used to the state’s utility companies. The center is sited on wetlands that were expanded and then incorporated directly into the center’s on-site storm water system.

CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION HEADQUARTERS
Annapolis, Maryland Smith Group
This “whole building” design utilizes both aggressive energy conservation and sustainable building strategies in virtually every aspect of materials, systems, manufacturing, maintenance, and construction.