This episode of the BS* + Beer show is a tour of The Kendeda Building at Georgia Tech with Jimmy Mitchell and Bob Kovacs. They explain key components of the Living Building Challenge (LBC)–certified classroom building and share strategies they employed for meeting the requirements. Their presentation includes a cursory introduction to the LBC program, with a brief look at its 7 Petals and 20 Imperatives. They talk at length about the nail-laminated timber floor/ceiling assembly. A crew from a local workforce development program (who helped satisfy the Equity Petal) built the 498 floor panels—using alternating salvaged 2x4s and new 2x6s—that were needed to span the 47,000-sq.-ft. volume. The materials and labor cost savings of this approach were significant, and the fluted look of the ceiling distinguishes the interiors. Jimmy and Bob also give us an in-depth look at the radiant floor heating and cooling system; the rain-, grey-, and storm-water management systems (including the foam-flush composting toilets); they explain the amount of research required to source materials against the Red List; and they point to a number of places where they were able to value engineer and innovate solutions to overcome challenges particular to the LBC.

Enjoy the show!

BS* + Beer Book Club

The Brew Crew and BS* Show are taking a summer vacation (cue music)! Our next episode will be on August 12 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. EST when resident energy nerd, Martin Holladay, will field comments and questions about his book: Musings of an Energy Nerd: Toward an Energy-Efficient Home, which can be purchased at the Taunton Store. We hope you pick up a copy and join the conversation.

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Kiley Jacques is senior editor at Green Building Advisor. She can be reached at [email protected].