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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 CRAN
05/19/2026
AIA NoVA CRAN Brings Design Conversations to Local Festivals
For two Saturdays in April, the AIA Northern Virginia Custom Residential Architect Network (CRAN) participated in local festivals with an ‘Ask an Architect’ pop-up tent. The booth provided festival goers with the opportunity to ask architects anything they might be curious about as it related to the design and construction process. Attendees also got to learn about the American Institute

Photo Credit ©️ Jin Park, AIA
05/18/2026
COTE Explores Net-Zero Design at HITT Headquarters
The AIA Northern Virginia Committee on the Environment (COTE) was excited to showcase the HITT HQ building, an integral part of the mixed-use transit-oriented development at the West Falls Church Metro Station. With direct transit access, nearby multifamily housing, retail, and restaurants, the project will bring new energy and help reinvigorate the Falls Church community and local economy. The tour

Photo Credit ©️ AIA NoVA YAF
05/15/2026
Seven Speakers, Infinite Perspectives: YAF Brings Pecha Kucha Night to Life
The Young Architects Forum (YAF) recently hosted its first ever Pecha Kucha Night and it was a total success! For those not familiar with the concept of Pecha Kucha, here is a little background. Pecha Kucha is Japanese for “chit-chat” and is a presentation format designed to keep ideas concise and engaging. The format consists of a group of designers
