AIA's Top Ten Green Building Projects for 2003

This year’s American Institute of Architects (AIA) Top 10 Green Building projects were honored on May 1st at the National Building Museum and will be again at the AIA National Convention and Design Expo in San Diego, California on May 9th.

They were chosen based on a positive contribution to their community, comfort for building occupants, and reduced environmental impacts through strategies such as: reuse of existing structures, connection to transit systems, low-impact site development, energy and water conservation, use of green construction materials, and design that improves indoor air quality.

The projects incorporate commonly used green building features: passive and active solar heating and cooling, natural ventilation, daylighting, high-efficiency lighting and appliances, and less common techniques of earth-sheltered or straw-bale construction.

Winners include a spectrum of building types – new construction and renovation of office, retail, residential, academic, and institutional facilities. The Chicago Center for Green Technology, for example, is an ambitious LEED Platinum design that uses almost 50% less energy than comparable construction, gets over 17% of its energy from solar and used 36% recycled materials in its construction. All of tenants are involved in environmental-related pursuits including Spire Solar Chicago (solar panel manufacturer), Green Corps (landscape training) and WRD Environmental (sustainable landscaping). Another project, Colorado Court (Santa Monica, CA.), is the first affordable housing project in the US to be certified as 100% energy neutral.

The Top 10:
Argonne Child Development Center, San Francisco
Chicago Center for Green Technology, Chicago, IL.
Colorado Court, Santa Monica, Calif.
Cusano Environmental Education Center, Philadelphia, PA.
Fisher Pavilion, Seattle, WA.
Herman Miller Marketplace, Grand Rapids, MI.
Hidden Villa Hostel & Summer Camp, Los Altos Hills, CA.
San Mateo County Sheriff’s Forensic Laboratory and Coroner’s Office, San Mateo, CA.
Steinhude Sea Recreation Facility, Los Angeles, CA.
Wine Creek Road Residence, Emeryville, CA.

Images, case studies, details, and technical information for The Top Ten Green projects:
http://www.aia.org/media/news/030422.asp