AIA Arizona COTE Event: Place-Based Design: The Potential of Design within the Sonoran Ecology

On Friday, February 27 join AIA Arizona Committee on the Environment (COTE) for a guided exploration of the Desert Botanical Garden, where attendees will deepen their understanding of Sonoran Desert ecology, plant adaptation, and conservation practices rooted in this region. Led by the design-build team, the tour will include the Exhibit Gallery, Ahearn Desert Learning Laboratory, and the Desert Learning Lab—place-based design-focused buildings that integrate principles of biomimicry and high-performing building standards. Together with presentations from Desert Botanical Garden and Native Seeds/SEARCH, this experience grounds design thinking in local ecology, culture, and mission-driven stewardship. Attendees will understand a stronger sense of place, enriched interdisciplinary collaboration, and thoughtful, context-responsive work in the built environment.

Event agenda:

• 2:50pm – 3pm – meet outside of admissions at the Desert Botanical Garden
• 3pm – 3:40pm – Group 1: tour with design + build team and DBG staff; Group 2: presentations by DBG staff and Native Seed Search regarding their non-profits
• 3:40pm – 4:20pm – Groups will switch
• 4:20pm – 4:30pm – closing comments

All are welcome to attend. Please register in advance as space is limited. Free for AIA Members (Architects, Associates, Allied). $15 for Non-Members.