Across town in Boston's Brighton neighborhood, the new headquarters of WGBH-TV is capped by a partial green roof, one of several innovations putting that television studio on the list. The LEED-certified structure has motion-sensitive office lighting, UV filtering glass and is made of 90% recycled steel, plus has conservation measures to reduce water consumption by 30% of normal levels. The nearby Hamilton Hall at Harvard Business School in Allston was also feted and, the AIA says, exemplifies the school's broader commitment to a campus-wide sustainability program.

A Back Bay Hotel, owned by a local hospitality company committed to energy conservation throughout its holdings, was also recognized by the AIA. Already ranked as the top urban hotel in the world on Conde Nast Traveler's annual Green List, the Lenox Hotel made the AIA cut, partly due to its initiative to offset 100% of the carbon emissions resulting from all of its electricity usage, and for being the first US hotel to offer guests the option of reusing their linen and towels. Owned by Saunders Hotel Group, the Lenox also employs healthy cleaners, air fresheners and paints, and was fitted with energy efficient windows in a renovation program.

The Carl J. and Ruth Shapiro Center at Brigham & Women's Hospital consists of eco-friendly construction materials that helped earn its selection by the AIA. The facility has a white roof to deflect heat and a ventilation system that lowers the build-up of latex allergens in ceiling spaces. In South Boston, a 140-unit condominium that achieved LEED Gold certification was feted by AIA for a design that will save 600,000 gallons of water annually and consume 30% less electricity. The Macallen Building represents a "conscious and deliberate effort" by the developer and its design/build team to incorporate sustainable design features, says the AIA.

Among the more unusual facilities on the list is the new Terminal A at Logan International Airport, which has special storm water filtration devices and roofing membranes to deflect heat. The AIA also cited the George Robert White Environmental Conservation Center for technologies such as geothermal heat pumps, photovoltaic shingles, and a solar hot water system. Where possible, the building uses environmentally sound materials from sustainability harvested forests, and local sources including Roxbury Puddingstone. Recycled materials and use of rainwater to irrigate a grassy recessed courtyard are among the innovations putting the EpiCenter artist facility in South Boston on the list. Those elements also helped it become the first LEED Platinum building in Boston, notes the AIA.

Even as Boston prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2012, Fenway Park showed its new millennium mettle by being put on the AIA list thanks to a variety of energy conservation measures implemented in recent years. A sand filtration system moderates runoff into storm drains, and Fenway's owners are installing low-flow plumbing and sensor-controlled fixtures, as well as converting many parts of the facility to fluorescent lighting.