About the Living Building Equity Champions
The Living Building Equity Champions (LBECs) are students charged with fully engaging in the development and realization of the Equity Petal of The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design at Georgia Tech. Aligning with The Kendeda Building Equity Work Group Recommendation No. 1 ("Engage Underrepresented Groups on Campus In Building Design"), the LBECs work closely with the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion to provide programmatic and thought leadership, expertise, and advocacy to continue promoting the Institute’s diverse student initiatives, programs, and efforts that facilitate our collective goal of student diversity and inclusion.
LBEC Responsibilities
- Provide input and feedback to the design and development of The Kendeda Building.
- Engage current students in The Kendeda Building’s equity, sustainability, and diversity efforts.
- Connect access to The Kendeda Building with the greater Atlanta community, particularly K-12 students.
The LBECs are supported by The Kendeda Building at Georgia Tech Academic and Research Council and the Center for Serve-Learn-Sustain.
About the Living Building at Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech has received a commitment for $30 million from The Kendeda Fund to build what is expected to become the most environmentally advanced education and research building ever constructed in the Southeast. The investment represents The Kendeda Fund’s largest single grant and ranks among the largest capital gifts ever received by Georgia Tech. Click here to learn more.
Equity Petal
The Kendeda Building Challenge focuses on seven performance areas:
- Place – Restoring a healthy interrelationship with nature.
- Water – Creating developments that operate within the water balance of a given place and climate.
- Energy – Relying only on current solar income.
- Health and Happiness – Creating environments that optimize physical and psychological health and well-being.
- Materials – Endorsing products that are safe for all species through time.
- Equity – Supporting a just and equitable world.
- Beauty – Celebrating design that uplifts the human spirit.
Institute Diversity has actively participated in The Kendeda Building at Georgia Tech Equity Work Group, providing strategic feedback and insight on design plans and processes and program development.
“As equity practitioners, we are often faced with the challenges of bringing more voices to the table as it relates to sustainability. It is exciting for us to be able to bring a group of passionate and diverse students to the table to inform The Kendeda Building project.”
–Keona Lewis, program review and research manager, Institute Diversity
“The Kendeda Building presents a unique opportunity to connect the campus and broader Atlanta community with equity-centered sustainability programs and initiatives. Our goal is to drive this conversation and move towards action steps, starting with the Living Building Equity Champions.”
–Atira Rochester, corporate relations manager, Institute Diversity
