The Kendeda Building in Atlanta, Georgia, stands as a beacon of sustainable design and construction. It’s not just a building; it’s a mission. A mission to prove that we can design, construct, and operate regenerative buildings in our region.
When we think about value engineering in a project, what I say is, the end result of value engineering is what you're telling the world you value. - Shan Arora - Director of The Kendeda Building
Achieving the Living Building Challenge
The Kendeda Building is the first building in Georgia and the 28th in the world to earn the Living Building Challenge (LBC) certification. The LBC is the world’s most advanced measure of sustainability in the built environment. It’s a philosophy, an advocacy tool, and a certification program that addresses all buildings at all scales.
The LBC is organized into seven performance areas, known as "Petals". These include Place, Water, Energy, Health & Happiness, Materials, Equity, and Beauty. Each Petal is further divided into a total of twenty Imperatives, all of which are mandatory.
Beyond Design: Proving Performance
But the LBC goes beyond design. To achieve certification, a building must not only meet rigorous design specifications but also demonstrate proof of performance. This means that the Kendeda Building had to prove that it operates within the water balance of its local climate, relies only on current solar income, and creates environments that optimize physical and psychological health and well-being.
The Kendeda Building: A Living Example
The Kendeda Building is a living example of these principles. It’s a regenerative building that connects occupants to light, air, food, nature, and community. It’s self-sufficient and remains within the resource limits of its site. It creates a positive impact on the human and natural systems that interact with it.
By incorporating salvaged materials during construction, the building diverted more waste from the landfill than it sent. To keep economic benefits local, at least 50% of the building materials and services were sourced from within 621 miles of the site.
It takes commitment
Building and operating a space like this takes commitment, from design through construction and into ongoing operations. Shan Arora, Director of The Kendeda Building, shares his insights on the Shaping Sustainable Places podcast. In the episode, he says, “when we think about value engineering in a project, what I say is, the end result of value engineering is what you're telling the world you value.”
I couldn’t agree more.
Listen to the full podcast episode, “A Building that gives more than it takes: the Kendeda Building,” to learn more about this incredible project and the principles behind it.
