AIA Northern Virginia’s Committee on the Environment (COTE) recently hosted a Dialogue Series that brought the design community together for an engaging conversation on LEED v5 and the future of sustainable design. Launched in April of 2025, LEED v5 is the latest version of the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system and serves as the world’s preeminent green building standard. LEED v5 represents an important evolution from previous iterations by introducing mandatory prerequisite assessments that have a stronger focus on three key areas: decarbonization, quality of life, and ecological conservation and restoration. For architects, this means shifting focus earlier in the design process to the components of embodied carbon, climate resilience, occupant well-being, and biodiversity so that projects can meet the mandatory requirements.

Just as valuable as learning about LEED v5 was the opportunity to gather in person. The Dialogue Series is intended to be more than a presentation; it’s a chance to exchange ideas, ask questions, hear different perspectives, and continue the conversation afterward. These discussions often provide some of the most valuable insights, helping connect what we learn in the classroom to the challenges and opportunities we encounter in our day-to-day projects.

A big thank you to Corey Enck and Leigh DeWitte (pictured left) of USGBC for sharing their knowledge and leading such an engaging presentation and discussion. Having the opportunity to learn directly from people who have helped shape the LEED program made the conversation especially valuable.  Thank you as well to everyone who attended and contributed to the lively discussion, thoughtful questions, and networking that made the event such a success.  Finally, a special thank you to our sponsors, IMEG, Jacobs, and Eastern Contractors Corporation for their generous support in making this event possible. Their continued support of AIA NoVA COTE and its initiatives help us create opportunities like the Dialogue Series that enable our community to come together, share knowledge, and advance the conversation around sustainable design.

– Jin Park, AIA | AIA NoVA COTE Co-Chair