The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design, Georgia Tech

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

The Georgia Institute of Technology’s Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design is Georgia’s first and the world’s 32nd building to receive the Living Building Challenge (LBC) certification – a globally recognized and comprehensive green building certification. The Kendeda Building promotes sustainability and inspires a connection between people and nature, encouraging the community to contribute more to the environment than they extract. 

The building achieves annual net-positive results in terms of energy and water. During construction, the building utilized salvaged materials, resulting in more waste being diverted from landfills than produced for the project. To retain economic benefits within the local Atlanta area, a minimum of 50% of the building’s materials and services were procured from within 621 miles of the construction site. 

The Kendeda Building was assembled using materials screened for commonly harmful chemicals that pose risks to human and environmental health, showing the architects and building designers’ prioritization of the health and well-being of its occupants. 

The university’s multi-disciplinary educational building demonstrates the feasibility of designing, constructing and operating regenerative buildings in the Southeastern United States. The building’s staff, all of which are part of the university’s Office of Sustainability, actively engage with its community, businesses and political leaders to promote sustainability. 

The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design at the Georgia Institute of Technology features Kawneer’s 1600UT System™1 Curtain Wall, AA®6400 Thermal Windows, GLASSvent® UT (Ultra Thermal) Windows, Versoleil® SunShades for Curtain Wall, 350 Medium Stile Entrances and AA®250 Thermal Entrances. The project also won Best Green Project for the Glass Magazine Awards in 2024. 

ARCHITECTS: Lord Aeck Sargent, Atlanta, GA, and The Miller Hull Partnership, LLP, Seattle, WA
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Skanska USA, Atlanta, GA
GLAZING CONTRACTOR: Crown Corr, Inc., Lithia Springs, GA

Photography: © Jonathan Hillyer

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