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For those that want a space to work on issues involving the environment
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Photo Credit © Joseph McCoy
About Us
The Committee on the Environment (COTE) works to advance, disseminate, and advocate design practices that integrate built and natural systems and enhance both the design quality and environmental performance of the built environment.
Our Leadership

Jin Park, AIA
2026 Co-Chair
Himanshe Tomar, AIA
2026 Co-ChairCheck Out Latest News

Photo Credit ©️ AIA NoVA COTE
09/23/2026
COTE Dialogue Series: Exploring New Standards in Sustainable Design
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

Photo Credit ©️ Zaira Suarez, AIA
09/22/2026
An Evening in Old Town: AIA NoVA’s September Board Meeting & Happy Hour at Winstanley Architects & Planners
This September, the AIA Northern Virginia Board of Directors traded the usual conference room for the historic streets of Old Town Alexandria, gathering for their monthly Board meeting followed by a happy hour hosted by Winstanley Architects & Planners at the firm’s centrally located office on King Street. Winstanley’s office is itself an architectural gem: a converted brick rowhouse tucked

Photo Credit ©️ Joseph McCoy, AIA
09/21/2026
2026 Canstruction® Northern Virginia: Creativity, Collaboration, and Community
AIA Northern Virginia’s Canstruction® event brought together creativity, collaboration, problem-solving, and community spirit as six teams transformed an everyday building material—the humble can—into imaginative and memorable works of art, all on display at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City. More than a design competition, Canstruction® demonstrates how architecture and design can make a tangible difference in our community. Every can
