Walk the Walk

First occupied in 1973, the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) headquarters in Washington was designed by The Architect’s Collaborative, a firm founded by architect Walter Gropius.

After 35 years, many of the building’s elements and systems are nearing the end of service life. The me­chanical, electrical, plumbing, vertical transportation, fire protection, glazing, roofing, lighting, parking and envelope systems are in need of modernization.

AIA is embarking on a major renovation of its 180,000-square-foot structure to meet the demands of a 21st-century workplace, while balancing the needs of carv­ing out a truly sustainable building and preserving the historical integrity of the original modern design.

A Model Approach

Foremost is an initial goal to reduce energy consumption 60 percent by 2012. AIA will compare its actions to the rating systems of the U.S. Green Building Council, Green Building Initiative and the International Initiative for a Sustainable Built Environment. It also wishes to avoid leveling its headquarters and starting from scratch, which would result in massive landfill contribution.

Secondly, AIA is committed to the historic preserva­tion of its existing structure. Third, it will employ an emerging method in building design. Integrated Proj­ect Delivery (IPD) is a collaborative process requiring proactive involvement of all participants in the design and construction phases from the outset. The use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) software will help execute this methodology and maximize efficien­cy to eliminate waste throughout the course of the project, leading to the most sustainable end product.

Design approaches will best address the goals of transform­ing the workplace into a more flexible and collaborative environment, providing a building more accessible and healthier for AIA employees. Maximum optimi­zation of space will accommodate future growth, facilitate opportunities for partnerships and provide income-producing space. 

Specific design strategies evaluated during the planning phase include windows that provide nat­ural ventilation, replacing inefficient fan coils with chilled beams, installing photovoltaic and solar/thermal systems, water harvesting, daylighting and shading schemes, and completely sealing the build­ing. This will lead to a tremendous reduction in en­ergy use, as well as greatly enhancing the indoor air quality of the workplace.

The entire process will be documented to share AIA’s experience. It should also inspire others in­terested in renewing existing buildings in a respon­sible, sustainable way through an IPD team ap­proach to achieve a flexible, functional, productive and friendly work environment.

The time is right for the AIA to show the world what can be achieved in the interest of a high-quality process for which the outcome is a sustainable fu­ture. Done right, the renewal of the AIA headquarters building can and will be the best example of how to renovate a modern building and will serve as a model 21st-century sustainable workplace.

The greening of AIA headquarters will serve as a blueprint for the profession and a testament to AIA’s leadership in creating sustainable projects within sustainable communities. Headquarters renewal will demonstrate the profession’s highest principles and best practices. It will also preserve an important work of architecture, while transforming it to serve as a bea­con for the institute’s commitment to sustainability.

For over 150 years, members of the American Institute of Architects have worked with each other and their communities to create more valu­able, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings and cityscapes.  AIA architects are uniquely poised to provide the leadership and guidance needed to provide solutions to address climate change. Visit www.aia.org/walkthewalk.

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