Insanely green building at Georgia Tech nears home stretch of construction

After nearly two years of construction, the Living Building at Georgia Tech, formally known as The Kendeda Building for Innovative Design, is reaching the final stages of completion.

According to the recent update from the “Living Building Chronicle,” the project is now expected to achieve “substantial completion” next month thanks to some significant milestones in the building process.

For instance, the building switched from temporary to permanent electricity in April. It’s also on track to be connected to its permanent power source: 915 solar panels, which are being installed on the canopy over the building’s roof.

Once in place, the solar panels are expected to provide more than 105 percent of the power needed for the building. As such, it will be one of the first net positive buildings in the Southeast.

Brick work around the building’s exterior also is nearing completion. These North Carolina-made Green Leaf bricks are created from 100-percent recycled material.

Ken Edelstein/Kendeda Fund

Inside, the finishing touches were put on the potable water system, which will collect rainwater on the roof and send it to the basement for treatment.

In collaboration with Atlanta-based Lord Aeck Sargent, Seattle-based The Miller Hull Partnership designed the Living Building, while The Kendeda Fund contributed $30 million to the project.

Once completed, the building will house a variety of unique spaces, ranging from classrooms, labs, and maker spaces to offices and open collaboration zones. There also will be a flexible auditorium that can be reconfigured to fulfill an array of needs.