COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT (COTE)
INAUGURAL DESIGN AWARDS
1. OVERALL
The Miami Chapter of the American Institute of Architects COTE Design Awards aim
to further sustainable design in the architectural profession and help raise awareness of
environmental issues where architects have a special leadership role to play. The
competition will promote greater understanding of design strategies through
transparency, comparative operational data, and compelling lessons learned that reveal
and inspire new materials, technologies and design solutions.
2. ELIGIBILITY
All projects must be located in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Monroe and Collier
counties. All architects licensed in the U.S. are invited to submit their completed built
projects, regardless of project size, budget, style, or building type. Entries are welcome
and encouraged from both established and new practitioners and designers, and from
firms of all sizes.
Completed new buildings, renovations/restorations, and interior architecture are
eligible.
Projects must be built and completed after January 1, 2010 and for at least three months
prior to the submission deadline. “Completion” is synonymous with “substantial
completion,” as defined in the standard AIA documents governing construction. It is
strongly encouraged that projects include a minimum of one (1) year of operational
performance data (energy and water.) The entry is to be submitted by the architect
(Design Architect or Architect of Record.)
The submitting architect may qualify as a member of a design team, whether or not
serving as the head of the team. When one architect is not the sole author, all other
participants contributing substantially to the design of the project must be given credit
as part of the submission, regardless of professional discipline. Project authorship must
remain anonymous during jury deliberations. If authorship is revealed on any submission
materials – images, plans, or narrative – the entry will be disqualified. A project that
credits any 2014 AIA Miami COTE AWARDS jury member or his/her firm as architect,
associate architect, consultant, or client is ineligible and will be disqualified if submitted.
Entries from firms that have signed onto the AIA 2030 Commitment will be favorably
weighted in the judging. Firms can sign onto the AIA 2030 Commitment via the
following link.
3. RECOGNITION
Three winners will be announced, with honorable mentions awarded at the discretion of
the jury. The awarded projects will receive significant recognition, including
acknowledgement in AIA MIAMI publications, website and social media. Recipients will
be asked to give a short presentation about their project at AIA Miami’s Center for
Architecture on Wednesday, May 27th, 2015 as part of the Sustainable Awards Event.
Recipients may be asked by AIA Miami or by various media representatives for
additional information about their projects. All submitted materials will become
property of AIA Miami.
4. REQUIREMENTS
1. REGISTRATION
 Online registration is required for each project submitted and will open on March
25, 2015.
2. ENTRY FEE
 An architect or firm may submit more than one project, but each project requires
payment of a separate non-refundable registration fee. AIA Members $100, Assoc.
AIA Members $50, Non-members $200.
3. ONLINE SUBMISSION PROCEDURES
 Link for entry submissions will be made available once payment is made. If more
than one architecture firm worked on the project, name each firm and describe
each firm’s role.
4. SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS
 Project submissions should provide a brief written narrative in response to the
seven (7) criteria listed in the Criteria section, and include a minimum of ten (10)
project images or diagrams combined into a single PDF. The file should be no more
than 15 pages and 10 MB in size (see details below.) The emphasis should be placed
on graphics that best inform the jurors about the innovative sustainable design
process and solutions that have been developed. Project metrics, including
operational data, are required.
DOCUMENT DETAILS










Submittal document shall be a maximum of 15 pages, Landscape Tabloid/Ledger)
11″ high x 17″ wide size sheets in PDF format. The font size should be no smaller
than 10 point.
Each of the seven (7) judging criteria and e should be addressed..
Each PDF sheet should consist of text and images/illustrations/analysis per entrant’s
preferred layout. There is no maximum limit for images as long as entire submission
does not exceed 15 pages.
PDF files must be compiled and saved as one single document and uploaded to the
website with link furnished upon payment.
All entries are to be identified by a unique identity code, issued at registration. Any
identifying mark that could lead to disclosure of the entrant’s identity will be a
ground for disqualification. Each page of the submission must include the code on
the lower left hand corner.
The documents submitted must not be password protected or encrypted.
All fonts used must be embedded in the documents submitted.
All images to be in RGB and have a minimum resolution of 300dpi.
All submissions are entirely online. No submissions by post or courier are accepted.
Submittal Template will be issued upon registration/payment.
5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The AIA Miami Committee on the Environment wishes to thank AIANY for facilitating
the awards criteria and framework used in this program.
6. SCHEDULE
 February 27, 2015
Launch



March 25, 2015
April 3, 2015
May 27, 2015
Website Uploads Open
Registration/Payment Due
Winners announced at Awards Event!
7. DEADLINES
Registration/Payment due by Friday, April 3, 2015. All submissions must be received
by 5:00 p.m. (EST) on Friday, April 24, 2015. The submission deadline will be
strictly observed; no exceptions will be made. Finalists will be asked to participate in a
presentation at the MCAD on Wednesday, May 27, 2015 as part of the Sustainable
Awards Event.
8. CRITERIA
PROJECT SUMMARY + OVERVIEW Provide a project summary that describes a
general overview of the project, program, site, client, goals, and design team priorities.
Provide overall project imagery and drawings (plans, sections, elevations, wall sections).
CRITERIA The following criteria and the related bullet points are intended as a
framework to help guide each team’s submission. The submission is not required to
meet all aspects of each criterion. In addition, it is encouraged to demonstrate how the
project submitted performs above and beyond what is described below. Several criteria
have specific metrics listed below, to be submitted as indicated in the entry template.
1. Engagement Process + Integrative Design



Process: Design Process (Charrettes, Engagement Tools, Framework, Site Analysis)
Integrated Systems Approach: Programmatic, Comfort, Energy
End-User Education
Metrics:
1. Initial Energy Goal (% Reduction per AIA 2030 Commitment – Site Energy Use
Intensity in kBtu/SF/year)
2. Initial Water Goal (% Reduction per LEED V3)
3. Initial Storm water (% Managed onsite per LEED V3)
2. Local and Regional Site Response





Ecological Impacts and Watershed Management
Infrastructural Impacts – Combined Sewer, Subway, Grid, etc.
Landscape and Wildlife Conservation
Local Air Quality Improvement, Microclimate Modification
Regional Resilience
Metrics:
1. Site restored with vegetation including roofs (% of Building Footprint)
2. Site Area Pervious (% of total site)
3. Green Roof Area (% of green roof vs total roof)
4. SRI Surfaces Area (% high SRI surfaces vs total site surfaces including roofs)
5. First floor height relative to updated FEMA flood plain.
3. Passive Before Active
 Massing Strategies
 Program Distribution
 Passive Survivability
 Primary Orientation
 Enclosure Design
Metrics:
1. Lighting Energy Reduction (% Reduction from ASHRAE 90.1-2007 baseline)
2. HVAC Energy Reduction (% Reduction over ASHRAE 90.1-2007 baseline)
3. Area of Window vs Area of Total Exterior Wall (Total window opening
including frame)
4. Operable Windows
4. Comfort + Delight
 Daylight Quality and Access to Views
 Access to “Nature”
 Control Over Individual Environment
 Passive Air Quality Enhancement
Metrics:
1. % of regularly occupied building area that achieves daylight autonomy (between
25fc-500fc) during daytime hours.
2. % of GSF within 15 feet of an Operable Window
5. Water Conservation beyond Low Flow
 Water + Energy Interactions
 Landscape and Material Innovations
 Flood Mitigation and Resiliency
Metrics:
1. Reduction in Potable Water Use (% reduced per LEED V3)
2. Rainwater storage capacity (gallons)
6. Energy Flow
 Expanding the Comfort Range
 Peak Load Reduction – Strategies for Efficiency
 Energy and Carbon Intensity
 Value Engineering + Life Cycle Analysis + Return on Investment
Metrics:
1. Site Energy Reduction (% over DOE National Median)
2. Predicted EUI (kBtu/ft2)
3. % Annual Energy Cost Reduced (% Reduction over ASHRAE 90.1-2007 baseline)
4. Average Lighting Power Density (W/ft2)
5. % Project energy generated by on-site renewables
7. Materials + Construction
 Durability
 Material Use Reduction
 Transparency and Product Declarations (HPD’s, EPD’s)
 Material Experimentation
Metrics:
1. # of HPD/EPD/Declare labeled products
2. % Construction Waste Diverted from Landfill (In tons)
3. % Material Regional (by cost)
4. % Material Recycled (by cost)
9. JURY
Non-local jurors will be announced at a later date.
10. WINNERS
There will be three awards:
 Honorable Mention
 Merit Award
 Honor Award
11. CONTACT
 [email protected]
 [email protected]