Letter from the
Chair
By Vivian Loftness, FAIA
In a post-Katrina world, the whole design community must better
understand fragile ecologies, engage in the definition of
community, and embrace regional thinking as catalysts for
a new architecture that will enhance the quality and
sustainability of life while celebrating the distinctions of
place.
Tulane students find a home for their
fifth-year fall design studio at Arizona State University.
(Photo: Julie Russ/ASU) |
Gulf Region Upheaval: Architecture
Firms and Students Resettle After
Katrina
By Kira A. Gould, Assoc. AIA
As displaced Gulf Coast architects and architecture students find
their bearings, with help from colleagues and universities
throughout the country, the architecture profession as a whole
begins to assess what has been lost and how to rebuild with a
long-term view.
The New Orleans-Phoenix
Equation
By Wellington Reiter, AIA
In a guest column for COTEnotes, the dean of the Arizona
State University College of Design draws parallels between
two cities that, on the surface, could not be more
distinct—and describes how ASU established a new kinship with
the displaced Tulane University School of Architecture.
Advocacy Update: The Energy Bill and
Architects
By Tom Wolfe
The Energy Policy Act of 2005, which became law over the summer,
brought mixed results for AIA members and especially COTE
members. While doing little to decrease the overall national
demand for energy from fossil fuels, the law does reflect some
successes from AIA lobbying to encourage photovoltaic
commercialization and authorize construction of the Sun Wall at the
U.S. Department of Energy. In addition, the law incorporates
provisions for assessment and development of consensus-based
standards and rating systems for sustainability in architecture as
well as tax incentives to encourage sustainable design.
The Heimbold Visual Arts Center at Sarah
Lawrence College, a 2005 COTE Green Project award winner.
Architect: Susan T. Rodriguez, FAIA, Polshek Partnership
Architects. |
COTE Top Ten Green Projects:
In the Architects' Words
By Mark Ruckman and Jared Silliker
For this issue of COTEnotes, we asked two guest
writers to discuss four of this year’s Top Ten Green Projects,
giving voice to the architects to discuss the projects’ big
ideas, turning points, and toughest challenges. Watch for profiles
of the other projects in future issues of COTEnotes.
Show You're Green: Affordable Green
Housing
By Rick Harlan Schneider, AIA
The AIA, as its contribution toward the Enterprise
Foundation’s “Green Communities” Initiative,
selected a slate of exemplary green projects for the Green Housing
Projects Gallery now available online through the Affordable Housing Design Advisor. The
nine projects selected display design excellence, to varying
degrees, as well as the technical proficiency needed for
sustainability—putting design into green design.
Online Tools for Achieving an EPA
Energy-Performance Rating
Target Finder and Portfolio Manager are among the
online tools available to empower to design better buildings that
also help to protect the environment. In addition to the ENERGY
STAR energy-performance rating for buildings, the EPA has initiated
a recognition programs for design firms. Find out how ENSAR Group
of Boulder, Colo., became the first recipient in 2005.
AIA Task Force Seeks to Define
Sustainability Agenda
From Environmental Building News
EBN published a September 2005 commentary about the AIA
Sustainable Building Standards Policy Summit (held July 25-26,
2005, in Washington, D.C.), where discussion centered on how best
to advocate a sustainability agenda when state and local
agencies—being lobbied to adopt green building policies and
legislation—are faced with competing systems of standards.
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AIArchitect: Sixteen Architecture Group Presidents Sign
Environmental Declaration
