Carbon in Architecture: Connecting the Dots in the Tool Kit
In 2019, AIA adopted the Framework for Design Excellence, which declared an urgent imperative to reduce carbon in the built environment.
OPN Architects’ Sustainability Director Tate Walker was the lead author of the COTE Toolkit, which formed the foundation of the framework, a compilation of best practices, exemplary projects, metrics, and research to support the design of beautiful, high-performing buildings. During the 2020 Minnesota Conference on Architecture, Tate will moderate a conversation with experts around the country as they explore how carbon is addressed (or not) in the day-to-day operation of architecture firms.
As the director of sustainability at OPN Architects, Tate leads projects and initiatives across the firm. His experience is rooted in the architectural design process but includes program and project management and the development of technical guidelines for high-performing buildings. He has served many organizations, including cities and universities, AIA’s Committee on the Environment, the AIA 2030 Commitment, and the USGBC’s Energy and Atmosphere Technical Advisory Group.