AIA selects the 10 best sustainable projects of 2018

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) announced on its official website the 2018 COTE Top Ten Awards winners: ten projects that value the integration of design excellence with environmental performance, following the rigorous COTE standards. Considered the most important award in the field, it will honor the selected architects in June. Check out the list below: Albion District Library, project by Perkins+Will

One of the most popular libraries in Toronto, Canada, the Albion District Library offers a range of services to a variety of demographics, including recent immigrants. While still in the renovation phase, Perkins+Will conducted a public consultation and decided to expand the existing library using a parking lot, allowing the old library to continue operating as normal during the renovation. Georgia Tech Engineered Biosystems Building, designed by Cooper Carry and Lake | Flato

Georgia Tech’s LEED Platinum Engineered Biosystems Building (EBB) in Atlanta, Georgia, is designed by Cooper Carry and Lake | Flato. A departure from the traditional laboratory structure, the building features a continuous space that runs along the spine of the building, with offices and meeting rooms in the wings. Daylight, outdoor views, a water collection system, and other biophilic elements used throughout the program encourage interaction. Green World, project by Studio Twenty Seven Architecture

Located in Washington, Mundo Verde is a bilingual school focused on sustainability. It captures and reuses rainwater, plants support insects and migratory birds, and nutrition and well-being are achieved through a food policy summarized as a vegetable garden, plate, and fertilizer. Sawmill, designed by Olson Kundig

Situated in California’s harsh Mojave Desert, Sawmill offers a new model for the sustainable single-family home. The client wanted a self-sufficient home that maximized the connection between architecture and nature, and between family members. The concrete block, steel and glass home was designed to withstand the harsh climate of the fire-prone Tehachapi Mountains. Sonoma Academy's Janet Durgin Guild & Commons, designed by WRNS Studio

The connection with nature, daylight and natural ventilation dictated the design of the building – 80% of the project is naturally lit. Transparent layers dominate: operable windows, movable surfaces, doors opening onto gardens and sliding wooden shutters are manipulated to provide shade and privacy. The entire building has access to natural light and views, reinforcing the importance of connection with the surroundings. The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, designed by DLR Group | Westlake Reed Leskosky

The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum was built in 1859 to a design by architect James Renwick Jr. and was last renovated between 1967 and 1972. The 21st-century renovation replaced and improved building infrastructure, enhanced historic features, and created greater flexibility for exhibitions. The project included restoring two long-hidden vaulted ceilings; recreating the original 19th-century window configuration; replacing all building systems; and improving accessibility. The project achieved a 50 percent reduction in annual energy use while welcoming more than 500,000 visitors and 180 million social media impressions in the first six months. Ortlieb's Bottling House, designed by Kieran Timberlake

Faced with the challenge of designing for a growing company and a growing need for building and finding space, Philadelphia-based Kieran Timberlake transformed a former brewery into a new studio, complete with labs and workshops. Sustainable solutions are found in the use of natural light and ventilation, and the smart use of energy. Nancy and Stephen Grand Family House, designed by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects

Founded in 1981, Family House is a non-profit organization that provides free temporary housing to families of seriously ill children receiving treatment at the University of California, San Francisco. The goals of the new Family House in Mission Bay are to provide a comforting, healthy, and supportive environment for 80 families in a non-institutional residential setting. San Francisco Art Institute - Fort Mason Center Pier 2, designed by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects

Located on the San Francisco Bayfront, a historic U.S. Army warehouse at Fort Mason has been transformed into a new campus for the San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) , creating an innovative and dynamic center for arts education and public engagement. This historic adaptive reuse preserves the industrial integrity of the landmark structure, supports the school’s pedagogical goals, and integrates advanced sustainable building systems. The project brings together student studios, public exhibition galleries, flexible teaching spaces, a theater, and a workshop, supporting SFAI’s commitment to positioning artists at the center of public life. New United States Courthouse - Los Angeles, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP

The New United States Courthouse is a 10-story building containing 24 courtrooms and 32 judicial chambers. It houses the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, accommodates the U.S. Marshals Service, and provides trial preparation space for the U.S. Attorney's Office and the Federal Public Defender's Office.