Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design

Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design is a landmark academic and public space located on the campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Opened in 2019, it is one of the most environmentally advanced buildings in the Southeastern United States, designed to meet the rigorous standards of the International Living Future Institute's Living Building Challenge. The facility serves as a living laboratory for sustainable architecture, promoting research and education in regenerative design.

Overview

The project was made possible by a grant from The Kendeda Fund, a philanthropic organization, to Georgia Institute of Technology. Its primary mission is to demonstrate that regenerative, positive-impact buildings are achievable in a challenging humid subtropical climate. The building houses classrooms, labs, and collaborative spaces for the College of Design and the College of Sciences, while also functioning as a public forum for community events. It stands as a physical manifesto for sustainability within the University System of Georgia.

Design and sustainability features

The architectural design, led by Lord Aeck Sargent and The Miller Hull Partnership, prioritizes a holistic, regenerative approach. A key feature is its energy-positive performance, achieved through a massive rooftop photovoltaic array that generates more electricity than the building consumes annually. The structure manages all its water needs on-site via a sophisticated system that collects rainwater, treats greywater and blackwater in a constructed wetland, and recycles it for all uses, including drinking. The building's form and orientation, with its large timber-framed porch, promote natural ventilation and daylighting, reducing reliance on mechanical systems. It incorporates non-toxic, locally sourced materials and is designed to foster a direct connection between occupants and the natural systems that sustain the building.

Construction and materials

Construction, which began in 2018, emphasized the principles of the Living Building Challenge's Materials Petal. This mandated the avoidance of chemicals on the Red List, a catalog of harmful substances common in construction. The team sourced salvaged materials, such as wood from fallen trees on the Georgia Tech campus and slate from a demolished building at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The primary structure utilizes responsibly harvested Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood, including glulam beams and cross-laminated timber. The use of these biophilic materials, combined with a focus on local manufacturing and suppliers, significantly reduced the project's embodied carbon footprint and supported the regional economy.

Certification and recognition

In 2021, the building achieved full certification under the Living Building Challenge (Version 3.1), the world's most stringent benchmark for sustainable design. This certification required a rigorous 12-month performance period of proven net-positive energy and water use. It is the first Living Building in Georgia and one of fewer than 30 such certified buildings globally at the time. The project has received numerous other accolades, including awards from the American Institute of Architects and recognition from the U.S. Green Building Council for its pioneering role in advancing green building practices beyond LEED certification.

Educational and programmatic use

Beyond its physical function, the building is a central hub for interdisciplinary education and outreach. It hosts classes from schools across Georgia Tech, including the School of Architecture and the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The building itself is the primary subject of study, with real-time performance data from its systems made publicly available for research. Programmatically, it is home to The Kendeda Fund's grant-making operations for sustainable communities and hosts public lectures, workshops, and tours led by the Georgia Tech Office of Campus Sustainability, aiming to inspire the next generation of designers, engineers, and policymakers.

Category:Buildings and structures at the Georgia Institute of Technology Category:Sustainable buildings in the United States Category:Buildings and structures in Atlanta Category:2019 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)