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Kyle Fiano, AIA

2026 Chair
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Avi Hapenciuc, AIA

2026 Vice Chair
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Alex Sexsmith, AIA

2026 AIA Southern Arizona Chair
AIA Arizona

Committee on the Environment (COTE)

AIA Arizona Committee on the Environment (COTE) is committed to achieving climate action, climate justice, and public influence through design. COTE connects, educates, and empowers all focused on a more sustainable future.

The AIA Arizona COTE holds regular meetings and hosts events such as tours, talks, and educational sessions. For forthcoming events, see the lower-left corner of this screen. Click on the event title to learn more and RSVP.

Core Values

Connect

  • Work with local communities.
  • Establish partnerships with other groups to coordinate on common interests. 
  • Expand the network beyond architects where possible. Collaborate with engineers, scientists, educators, city officials, and all who share the common goal of protecting our environment.

Educate

  • Provide a platform for experts to share their knowledge. 
  • Increase awareness and understanding of supporting programs. 
  • Communication between those who design and those who approve—between design teams and staff at municipalities.

Empower

  • Establish a supportive network to elevate each other.
  • Engage on a personal level to change the conversation. 

Send an email to request to be added to the list of those who receive regular COTE meeting invites.

Photo (upper left): COTE members attend a tour of the Beam on Farmer, designed by RSP Architects and built by Mortenson.

Email for Info
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09/26/26

Scenes from AIA Southern Arizona Women in Architecture + COTE Volunteer Group Activity with Tucson Clean & Beautiful!

AIA Southern Arizona’s Women in Architecture and Committee on the Environment (COTE) came together on Saturday, September 26, to volunteer with Tucson Clean & Beautiful and make a lasting impact on the built environment. By planting trees in Tucson’s Rosemont West neighborhood, our group contributed to expanding the urban tree canopy, strengthening community spaces, and supporting Mayor Romero’s Tucson Million
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06/17/26

AIA Framework for Design Excellence Webinar

In this special webinar held on June 16, attendees learned from the architects behind three recent winners of the SRP Sustainable Design Award presented by AIA Arizona. Each speaker described how they applied the principles of the AIA Framework for Design Excellence, highlighting its ten measures—including design for integration, equitable communities, ecosystems, water, energy, wellness, resources, change, discovery, and beauty—to
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