Sustainable design strategies continue to gain prominence across healthcare, civic and institutional construction as owners prioritize energy performance, occupant wellness and long-term operational resilience in new development programs.
The AIA Indiana Committee on the Environment recognized three Indiana projects during its inaugural COTE Design Awards program, highlighting facilities that integrated sustainability and community-focused design within large-scale construction developments.
The Eskenazi Health Thomas & Arlene Grande Campus in Indianapolis received a Merit Award for new construction projects valued above $5 million. Designed by arcDESIGN, the LEED Silver-certified healthcare facility combines medical services, behavioral health resources and community support functions within Indianapolis’ northeast corridor.
Jurors cited the project’s integration of community engagement, equitable access considerations and sustainability measures aligned with the AIA Framework for Design Excellence.
The Fishers City Hall & Art Center, designed by DELV Design, also earned a Merit Award in the same category. The civic complex combines municipal offices, arts programming, educational space and performance venues within downtown Fishers.
The project incorporated landscape planning and water management systems intended to support accessibility and long-term operational flexibility for one of Indiana’s fastest-growing municipalities.
RATIO Design received a Citation Award for the Fowler Academic Building at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute.
The academic facility includes science and engineering instructional spaces designed with an emphasis on student wellness, daylighting and energy efficiency. The building became Indiana’s first WELL-certified higher education facility, incorporating flexible learning environments and shading systems intended to reduce energy demand while increasing access to natural light.
The awards jury included architecture and sustainability professionals from across the Midwest led by Sean Costello of DIEKEMA HAMANN Architecture & Engineering in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Healthcare systems, municipalities and higher education institutions continue incorporating sustainability standards and wellness-focused design into capital improvement programs as owners seek to reduce operational costs, improve building performance and meet environmental goals.
For contractors, architects and facility owners, the recognized Indiana projects reflect growing demand for integrated building strategies that combine energy efficiency, occupant experience and resilient infrastructure within large-scale public and institutional developments.
Source: Building Indiana Business.
