WASHINGTON - The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and its Committee on the Environment (COTE) have announced their 2004 Top Ten Green Projects. These building projects will be honored on May 27 during a presentation at the National Building Museum in Washington, and again in June at the AIA National Convention and Design Exposition in Chicago.

According to the AIA, the 2004 Top Ten Green Projects address significant environmental challenges with designs that integrate architecture, technology, and natural systems. They make a positive contribution to their community, improve comfort for building occupants, and reduce environmental impacts through strategies such as: reuse of existing structures, low-impact site development, energy and water conservation, use of sustainable or renewable construction materials, and design that improves indoor air quality.

The seventh annual Top Ten Green Projects initiative was developed by the AIA in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Building News magazine, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Energy Star® program. The jury selected projects covering a range of project types. Facilities included both new construction and renovation of office, retail, residential, academic, and institutional facilities.

The 2004 Top Ten Green Projects (listed in alphabetical order) are:

20 River Terrace, The Solaire, New York City

Environmental Services Building, Pierce County, Wash.

Factor 10 House, Chicago

Genzyme Center, Cambridge, Mass.

Greyston Bakery, Yonkers, N.Y.

Herman Miller, Zeeland, Mich.

Lake View Terrace Branch Library, Los Angeles

The Plaza at PPL Center, Allentown, Pa.

City of White Rock Operations Centre, White Rock, British Columbia

Woods Hole Research Center Gilman Ordway Campus, Woods Hole, Mass.

Publication date: 05/10/2004