COTE Committee

The Committee on the Environment (COTE) works to advance, disseminate, and advocate—to the profession, the building industry, the academy, and the public—design practices that integrate built and natural systems and enhance both the design quality and environmental performance of the built environment. The AIA Mississippi COTE chapter is leading and coordinating efforts to prove that sustainable actions are especially critical in Mississippi, which has a diverse terrain, economic challenges, and a history of deep inequality. Our goals include:

1. Improving awareness about the economic and social value of sustainability and resilience. 

2. Advocating for policies and programs that support energy-efficiency, reduce water and other resource use, and promote decarbonization of the built environment.

3. Providing professional education opportunities for architects to make sustainable decisions that are grounded in the local context, improving performance and creating design impact on a budget.

4. Facilitating integration of the AIA Framework for Design Excellence into the AIA Mississippi Design Awards.

Formed in 2024, AIA Mississippi's COTE chapter is seeking additional members to join in this work. Please contact current chair Emily Roush-Elliott (emily@deltadb.org) or Allison Anderson (allison@unarch.com) if you'd like to be involved.