The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design was born out of an ambitious partnership between The Kendeda Fund and the Georgia Institute of Technology, focused on making an exemplary change in how design and technology are used to create better environmental outcomes. It is the most environmentally advanced education and research building constructed in the Southeast to date- with a specific intent for aspects of the project to be transformative, inspiring- and replicable. Designing a successful Living Building Challenge project is by definition and necessity a challenging, collaborative, and integrated endeavor.

The highly integrated partnership of the Design Team mirrored the Client relationship. Lord Aeck Sargent and the Miller Hull Partnership along with an innovative and experienced consulting Team developed a Design Process that combined human creativity with technical analytics in virtual lockstep from beginning to end. The lecture will chronicle the process and path used to design the facility where Georgia Tech will lead, educate, and transform thought in the area of ecology and regenerative buildings. Further, the building itself is designed to inspire research and create aspects of replicability for other building owners, designers, and constructors in the Southeast. The design process itself can serve as a roadmap for future Living Buildings. The Kendeda Building is designed for place, climate, culture, and the diverse programmatic needs of a broad interdisciplinary set of users. It is designed to seamlessly integrate into and enhance the Eco Commons.