Decarbonizing the AIA's Brutalist-style headquarters

In the 1970s, Brutalist-style architecture and the use of concrete in its purest, raw form were the name of the game. It was a demonstration of innovation, cost effectiveness and service to the public good. But now, 50 years later, priorities and needs have changed. Some of the Brutalist structures from half a century ago no longer suit the needs of their occupants or the environment. And that was the case for the AIA headquarters building in Washington, D.C.

The organization needed a building that more accurately reflected its values, the principles of the Framework for Design Excellence and the value architects bring to the table. So, they tapped EHDD, a San Francisco-based architecture firm with a decarbonization secret weapon, to lead the renovation of the existing headquarters and bring it to net-zero carbon.

In this film, Rebecca Sharkey, principal at EHDD, walks through the team's approach to achieving zero carbon. And Melanie De Cola, director of Climate Action Pledge Programs at the AIA, Terri Stewart, chief financial and administrative officer at the AIA, and Kevin Watkins, chief operating officer at the AIA, share what it's like working in the building now.