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Collection by Heather Corcoran

Award-Winning Green Buildings Across North America

Celebrate Earth Day with a look at 10 AIA-awarded buildings setting the (LEED) standard in green design.

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Part of the Tassafaronga Village affordable-housing complex in Oakland, California, this 60-unit apartment building anchors the new neighborhood and surpasses California’s already-strict energy standards by 47.5 percent.
Part of the Tassafaronga Village affordable-housing complex in Oakland, California, this 60-unit apartment building anchors the new neighborhood and surpasses California’s already-strict energy standards by 47.5 percent.
Energy-conscious considerations, like a south/southeastern orientation and terra-cotta brise soleil save the San Antonio Military Medical Center $219,000 in energy costs each year—despite the area's hot, humid climate.
Energy-conscious considerations, like a south/southeastern orientation and terra-cotta brise soleil save the San Antonio Military Medical Center $219,000 in energy costs each year—despite the area's hot, humid climate.
This adaptive reuse project in San Antonio transformed an early-20th–century warehouse into a lively design studio. Its open floor plan provides long-term flexibility for future users, while 1,200 square feet of roof space was removed to create a new courtyard while maintaining the original facade.
This adaptive reuse project in San Antonio transformed an early-20th–century warehouse into a lively design studio. Its open floor plan provides long-term flexibility for future users, while 1,200 square feet of roof space was removed to create a new courtyard while maintaining the original facade.
The New Orleans BioInnovation Center is a nonprofit incubator for biotech startups. While labratory buildings are among the most itense users of energy of all building types, NOBIC measures just 1/3 of the energy use of a typical lab.
The New Orleans BioInnovation Center is a nonprofit incubator for biotech startups. While labratory buildings are among the most itense users of energy of all building types, NOBIC measures just 1/3 of the energy use of a typical lab.
Boston's E+ // 226-232 Townhouses were created as a replicable prototype for family-friendly, energy-efficient urban townhomes under the City of Boston’s Energy Plus (E+) Green Building Program.
Boston's E+ // 226-232 Townhouses were created as a replicable prototype for family-friendly, energy-efficient urban townhomes under the City of Boston’s Energy Plus (E+) Green Building Program.
With 400 bicycle parking spaces, the Collaborative Life Sciences Building—a partnership between Oregon Health & Science University, Portland State University, and Oregon State University—earned a Bike Score of 91.
With 400 bicycle parking spaces, the Collaborative Life Sciences Building—a partnership between Oregon Health & Science University, Portland State University, and Oregon State University—earned a Bike Score of 91.
With every material and system in the self-sustaining six-story, 52,000-square-foot Bullitt Center evaluated toward the goal of net-zero energy, water, and waste, this Seattle office building is the largest certified Living Building.
With every material and system in the self-sustaining six-story, 52,000-square-foot Bullitt Center evaluated toward the goal of net-zero energy, water, and waste, this Seattle office building is the largest certified Living Building.
Rooftop rainwater collection at Ontario's CANMET Laboratory is anticipated to reduce potable water requirements for sewage conveyance and irrigation by 100 percent.
Rooftop rainwater collection at Ontario's CANMET Laboratory is anticipated to reduce potable water requirements for sewage conveyance and irrigation by 100 percent.
The Sweetwater Spectrum Community in Sonoma, California, offers supportive housing for adults with autism, with four homes, a community center, therapy pools, and an urban farm. A variety of passive and active strategies, including building orientation, a high-performance envelope, and building-integrated photovoltaic and solar thermal panels, reduce energy consumption 88 percent from the baseline.
The Sweetwater Spectrum Community in Sonoma, California, offers supportive housing for adults with autism, with four homes, a community center, therapy pools, and an urban farm. A variety of passive and active strategies, including building orientation, a high-performance envelope, and building-integrated photovoltaic and solar thermal panels, reduce energy consumption 88 percent from the baseline.