Washington D.C.—AIA and its Committee on the Environment (COTE) have selected the top 10 examples of sustainable architecture and green design solutions that protect and enhance the environment.

The COTE Top Ten Green Projects program celebrates projects that are the result of a thoroughly integrated approach to architecture, natural systems, and technology. They make a positive contribution to their communities, improve comfort for building occupants, and reduce environmental impact through the reuse of existing structures, connection to transit systems, low-impact and regenerative site development, energy and water conservation, use of sustainable or renewable construction materials, and design that improves indoor air quality.

Members of the selection jury include: Glenn Murcutt, Hon. FAIA, Glenn Murcutt Architecture; Jason McLennan, AIA, Cascadia Region Green Building Council; Susan T. Rodriguez, FAIA, Polshek Partnership Architects; Gail Brager, Ph.D., University of California at Berkeley; Marvin Malecha, FAIA, North Carolina State University; and Rebecca Henn, AIA, Ph.D. candidate at the University of Michigan.

The 2008 Top Ten Green Projects (listed in alphabetical order):

Aldo Leopold Legacy Center, The Kubala Washatko Architects, Cedarburg, Wisc.

Cesar Chavez Library Line and Space, Tucson, Ariz.

Discovery Center at South Lake Union, The Miller/Hull Partnership, Seattle

Pocono Environmental Education Center, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Garthwaite Center for Science and Art, Cambridge School of Weston, Architerra, Boston

Lavin-Bernick Center for University Life, VJAA, Minneapolis

Macallen Building Condominiums, Office dA Inc. and Burt Hill Inc., Boston

Queens Botanical Garden Visitor & Administration Center, BKSK Architects, New York

The Nueva School, Hillside Learning Complex,Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects, San Francisco

Yale University Sculpture Building and Gallery,KieranTimberlake Associates, Philadelphia