Living Building Challenge (LBC)

 “What if every single act of design and construction made the world a better place?”

The world’s most rigorous proven performance standard for buildings — the Living Building Challenge (LBC) — is administered by the non-profit International Living Future Institute (ILFI), a global network dedicated to creating a healthy future for all.

LBC demands regenerative design solutions, to produce projects that go beyond simply reducing harm and instead actually improve the local environment. LBC buildings generate more energy than they use, capture and treat all water on site, and are constructed using healthy materials. Regenerative design principles can yield enormous benefits throughout a building’s entire life cycle costs, as well as in worker happiness, community good will, brand value and front-line environmental benefits.

A Living Building Challenge project requires extraordinary teamwork, with a clear understanding of occupant behavior and resource consumption. IES provides consulting on all aspects of LBC, including sourcing and researching healthy building materials (using the Red2Green software tool kit), planning for net zero energy and water use and preparing certification documentation.

Living Buildings for a Living Future

Jason McLennan, the founder of Living Building Challenge, presents a TED Talk on how LBC is revolutionizing the green building and sustainability movement worldwide.
Our LBC Projects

The Ecology School

The Ecology School, Saco, ME The Ecology School wants to become one of the nation’s most sustainable residential environmental learning centers and has registered for the Living Community Challenge, the most advanced measure of sustainability in the built environment today. The site is located along the Saco River and includes a 105-acre organic farm with…

Fort Bradshaw

Fort Bradshaw Hall, Williams College, Williamstown, MA Fort Bradshaw, formerly Fort Hoosac, is currently undergoing a full gut renovation.  This includes replacement or upgrades  to envelope, mechanical, and electrical systems.  Finishes will be replaced throughout. The building will be made fully accessible including installation of an elevator. Upon completion, the building will be LBC Petal…

Confidential LBC Project, Cambridge, MA

IES conducting and supporting LBC Materials Petal feasibility study for 500,000-sf laboratory complex. LBC Petal Certification v3.1 target. Architects and location confidential.

Living Village at Yale Divinity School, New Haven, CT

Integrated Eco Strategy conducted the feasibility study for a new 130,000-sf Yale Divinity School campus targeting full Living Building Challenge v3.0 certification. Construction expected to begin in 2020. Architects – Bruner/Cott Architects and Planners