Yesterday, the American Institute of Archiects' (AIA) Committee on the Environment (COTE) announced their selection of this year’s Top Ten examples of "sustainable projects that protect and enhance the natural environment." The selected projects leverage design for good, each addressing significant environmental challenges by thoughtfully combining architecture, technology, and natural systems. This year's list showcases how pervasive green building has become, with a wide variety of projects, including a single family home (LivingHomes' Z6, pictured), a library, two nonprofit headquarters, a school, and a water treatment facility that doubles as a park. Though limited to 10 entries (to go in the "top 10"), the judges awarded four "honorable mentions" because they felt that there were so many outstanding projects, a "Top Ten Awards" first. Now, without further ado, the recipients are, in alphabetical order:
- EpiCenter, Artists for Humanity (Arrowstreet, Inc.), Boston, MA
- Global Ecology Research Center (EHDD Architects), Stanford, CA
- Government Canyon Visitor Center (Lake/Flato Architects), Helotes, TX
- Hawaii Gateway Energy Center (Ferraro Choi and Associates), Kailua-Kona, HI
- Heifer International (Polk Stanley Rowland Curzon Porter Architects, Ltd.), Little Rock, AR
- Sidwell Friends Middle School (Kieran Timberlake Associates), Washington, DC
- Wayne L. Morse U.S. Courthouse (Morphosis & DLR Group), Eugene, OR
- Whitney Water Purification Facility (Steven Holl Architects), New Haven, CT
- Willingboro Master Plan & Public Library (Croxton Collaborative Architects, PC), Willingboro, NJ
- Z6 House (LivingHomes with Ray Kappe Architects), Santa Monica, CA
2007 Top Ten Award Honorable Mentions
Congratulations to all the recipients and those who received honorable mentions! Read more about the awards here. [American Institute of Architects]
