First Grocer Named Top Ten Green Project in America
In 2016, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and its Committee on the Environment (COTE) selected H-E-B at Mueller as one of the top ten examples of sustainable architecture and ecological design projects that protect and enhance the environment.
After 2 years of collaboration with Lake|Flato Architects, Selser Schaefer Architects, and other stakeholders, we delivered a store that reimagined what was possible for energy, water and overall efficiency with an innovative approach to meet the needs of the community it serves.
The COTE Top Ten Awards program is the profession’s most rigorous recognition program for sustainable design excellence. The program celebrates projects that are the result of a thoroughly integrated approach to architecture, natural systems and technology. Design projects recognized through this program have outpaced the industry by virtually every standard of performance.
H-E-B was the first grocery store to receive a national AIA COTE Top Ten Award, the highest honor in sustainable design. “For the Mueller store to receive recognition as one of the top ten most sustainable buildings in the country is a testament to H-E-B’s achievements in environmental sustainability and continued design innovation,” said David Lake, FAIA Partner, Founder Lake|Flato.
H-E-B at Mueller is a designated LEED® Gold certification and Austin Energy® Green Building 4-Star sustainability certification store. Located in the Mueller neighborhood, a mixed-use urban village in Austin, the store is located three miles from downtown and two miles from the University of Texas, with excellent access to public transportation, open space, and bike routes. H-E-B at Mueller slashed its energy use by 64% over the grocery store national median while achieving a better customer experience.
