Architecture and the value of design are playing greater roles in the design of state-owned buildings than Californians may imagine, and the result could wind up saving millions for taxpayers while improving the energy efficiency of state buildings, according to the AIA California Council.

In a sweeping policy move, Governor Gray Davis (D) in February implemented a new Executive Order adopted from a special report developed by the California Sustainable Building Task Force. This new report, Building Better Buildings: A Blueprint for Sustainable State Facilities, creates a new roadmap for the design and construction of California's built environment. By integrating environmentally sound technologies, materials, and practices into the overall design of a building, improved energy efficiency, air quality, and lighting can all be realized, the publication says.

"If we want to create a legacy of better buildings, part of that legacy has to be to integrate better design strategies," said California State Architect (and AIA national secretary) Stephan Castellanos, FAIA. "The protection of California's scarce resources can take place at the same time we are creating healthier and more energy-efficient environments. California is embarking on a program that is based on high-performance standards, which includes the use of high recycle-content materials and improved design and construction practice. By using a sustainability program, we can reduce landfill, save energy, and create more beautiful buildings that will enhance productivity."

"Creating more sustainable buildings through the thoughtful design and integration of new technologies, materials, and practices is a concept that AIACC fully embraces," said AIACC Executive Vice President Paul W. Welch Jr., Hon. AIA. "We applaud this new policy and the foresight of adopting these new standards as this forward-thinking approach can result in considerable energy savings and create more beautiful buildings for California's communities." Welch, whose AIA chapter represents the interests of 10,000 architects and allied members in California, adds that "architects can play a critical role in assisting the state achieve these new standards."

To read the California Sustainability Task Force's Building Better Buildings: A Blueprint for Sustainable State Facilities, click here.

The AIA convention, May 9 to 11 in Charlotte, offers several programs in sustainable design—see the reference column at right. For more information, visit the AIA convention site on AIA.org.

Copyright 2002 The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved.