This VIP takes as its main focus Georgia Tech’s new Living Building – the Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design – and its efforts to advance social equity as one of seven key performance areas in the Living Building Challenge. This VIP also explore equity and resilience in sustainability projects on Georgia Tech’s campus and in surrounding partner communities in Atlanta.

We have four goals: 1) Incorporate equity as an important sustainability objective in engineering and architecture design practices at Georgia Tech; 2) Work closely with campus partners to fully engage underrepresented students in The Kendeda Building and to use the building to advance the Institute’s diversity, equity, and inclusion goals; 3) Collaborate with partners from communities surrounding campus to advance equity, resilience, and sustainability in the built environment; and 4) Influence the sustainable building sector nationally and internationally to more thoroughly incorporate equity as a goal in their rating systems and programs.

Our multi-disciplinary research team includes GT students, faculty, and staff. Students work in sub-teams on projects related to these goals. Following the VIP model, projects are student-driven, with faculty, staff, and partners serving as advisers.

The VIP is open to students from any major or background with an interest in advancing equity and sustainability in the built environment. The course is affiliated with Serve- Learn-Sustain (SLS) and fulfills requirements in both the Sustainable Cities Minor and the SLS Innovating for Social Impact Program.

Visit our VIP page for more information.