The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design (“Kendeda Building”) is the latest example of the Georgia Institute of Technology's sustainability leadership and innovation. Georgia Tech completed the building in September 2019 and constructed it to the Living Building Challenge 3.1 (“LBC”) certification standard, the world’s most ambitious building performance standard. For example, The Kendeda Building must produce more onsite renewable electricity than it uses and it has composting toilets that use a fraction of the water of conventional toilets.

This Occupant Manual provides an overview of how to use the building.

 

Building Hours and Closed Dates

  • Closed to the public until further notice.
  • Closed on following holidays during 2020:
    • New Year’s Day – Wednesday January 1
    • MLK Jr. Day – Monday January 20
    • Memorial Day – Monday May 25
    • Labor Day – Monday September 7
    • Thanksgiving – Thursday November 26 and Friday November 27
    • Holiday – Monday December 21 to Friday December 25

 

Tips on Usage

 

Toilets

The building has composting toilets that use soap foam for "flushing." The foam flush feature is motion-activated. Follow these simple steps:

  1. Enter the stall.
  2. Hear the hum of a motor and observe the foam sliding down the sides of the toilet.
  3. Use the toilet seat cover if you must.
  4. Do your business.
  5. Use toilet paper.
  6. Do not place anything else down the toilet. 

 

Lighting Controls

The building has a smart, efficient lighting system. Lights will turn off automatically after a period of inactivity. Each room has lighting controls identified with a yellow "Lights" label. Regardless of the number of buttons, the lighting controls work as follows:

  1. Top button is automatic - sensors will determine amount of lighting needed in the room.
  2. Bottom button is off - in this mode, occupants can also use the up or down button to manually increase or decrease luminosity. 
  3. Middle buttons are pre-set brightness settings.

 

Fan Controls

The building has a unique climate control system that utilizes lots of fans. Each room has fan controls identified with a blue "Fans" label. The switch is "on" and "off" with a slider on the side that allows for speed adjustment.

 

Window Blind Controls

Rooms either have interior blinds or external blinds. Each room has window blind controls identified with a red label.

  • For interior blinds, the top button is "fully up," the middle buttons are 25% down, 50% down, and 75% down, and the bottom button is "fully down."
  • For exterior blinds, the bottom button is down and the top button is up.

 

Materials Management

The Kendeda Building seeks to maximize materials diversion from the landfill. There are three receptacle stations for materials in the building. Each is labeled for plastics, aluminum, paper, compost, and landfill (i.e., trash). Two receptacle stations also accept hard-to-recycle materials (e.g., styrofoam and plastic film). Each receptacle station has pictures showing what you can discard in the corresponding bin. 

 

Audio / Visual

If you want to show a presentation, bring your own laptop. Only the Auditorium has a built-in computer, accessible if you have a Georgia Tech profile. All other rooms are "bring your own device." You can connect to the room projector wirelessly or via an HDMI connection (note that the Makerspace / Design Studio does not have wireless connection). If your computer does not have an HDMI port, please bring an HDMI adapter.  Also, bring your own presentation clicker / advancer / laser pointer. 

The Auditorium has a 5-channel audio system, which include one microphone attached to the podium and four handheld or lapel microphones. Each of the two classrooms have a 2-channel audio system, which include one microphone attached to the podium and one lapel microphone. All other rooms do not have audio systems. 

If you have issues with the building's A/V system, please call the A/V Services Team at 404-894-4669. Assistance is available Monday - Friday from 7am to 8pm.

 

Electricity

The building has fewer plugs, and that is by design. Bring your electronic device fully charged. 

 

Reserving Space

For those internal to Georgia Tech (students, staff, faculty), "request classroom space" using the Georgia Tech Events Management System (EMS) at http://www.space.gatech.edu/gt-events. Please note, the building must adhere to energy and water usage requirements. Therefore, all requests via EMS must be approved. Please allow for five business days for processing.

For groups not internal to Georgia Tech, please note that the building is primarily a classroom. We will consider external requests for reservations on a case-by-case basis. Contact Kamilah Roberts (kamilah.roberts@sustain.gatech.edu)​ to discuss space availability and fees.

The default layout for all rooms is classroom layout. Alternative room layouts have to be approved by Kamilah Roberts or Shan AroraWhile tables and chairs are moveable within each room, the person reserving a room is responsible for any change in layout and then ensuring that the room is returned to classroom layout. 

 

Catering

All events in The Kendeda Building must follow Georgia Tech’s general catering and alcohol policies:

 

Contact Information

For questions regarding toilets/plumbing, lighting, waste/recycling, and building temperature, contact Marlon Ellis, mellis61@gatech.edu, 404-861-9852.

For questions about events, building timing, building access, and other issues, contact:

  • Shan Arora, shan.arora@gatech.edu, 404-277-9391
  • Kamilah Roberts, kamilah.roberts@sustain.gatech.edu, 404-385-4949

If you have issues with the building's A/V system, please call the A/V Services Team at 404-894-4669. Assistance is available Monday - Friday from 7am to 8pm.