BRD Project 34th in World to Gain Full LBC Certification

The Class of '66 Environmental Center, at Williams College, has achieved full Living Building Challenge certification from the International Living Future Institute. Living Building Challenge is the most rigorous green building certification to achieve, requiring the design, materials and construction to conform with 20 imperatives (petals), including the requirement to demonstrate net zero energy and water usage.

The facility marries a contemporary addition to a 1797 historic building to create a new home for the college's Environmental Studies department and Zilkha Center for Environmental Initiatives. The lower floors are public spaces including a teaching kitchen, reception, reading room, conference room, and classroom, while the upper floor is faculty and staff offices. The site includes several outdoor meeting and classroom spaces, gardens, orchards, and rain gardens. 

While water and energy are perhaps the most difficult of the imperatives to meet, others include avoiding the use of “red list” materials, locally sourcing materials, incorporating biophilic elements, minimizing embodied carbon, promoting equity, and supporting car free transportation. 

The building and site have served as a laboratory for student research on topics such as pharmaceuticals in composted solid waste after land application.  In addition, numerous groups have toured the facility, including leadership from other institutions considering pursuing LBC certification on their projects.  The experience has also informed Williams College’s Sustainable Building Policies and inspired them to pursue additional ILFI certifications. 

Although the building has been occupied for a few years, achieving the final petals for net zero electricity consumption and water proved difficult. The Environmental Center's popularity with users increased the plug load beyond projections and required additional solar PV panels to increase electricity generation. Also, to meet the LBC requirements for water usage, the building harvests and recycles rainwater which required reworking the water filtration system. These steps helped the Environmental Center pass a final audit and attain full LBC certification. Congratulations to the College for sticking to its commitment.

Read more at: https://www.blackriverdesign.com/class-of-66.