Georgia Tech Living Building Challenge

The Georgia Tech Living Building Challenge is a $30 million, eco-friendly, structure on 1.44 acres that is integrated into Georgia Tech’s EcoCommons space on campus. This 42,500 square foot building will include a variety of innovative and state-of-the-art features with the overall goal of net-zero energy and water impact.  Long Engineering, Inc. worked in conjunction with the architect to prepare a site plan that met the goals for the project as well as preparing grading and drainage plans for the site including the design of stormwater management facilities.

This eco-friendly project includes design and implementation of 3 water pathway functions. The first water pathway function is the use of foam flush composting toilets with the compost used for the surrounding vegetation, the second function is rainwater, harvested from the building’s roof with filtration and disinfection for potable consumption, and the final is a greywater system that includes treatment for on-site use. A 1,000 gallon, primary tank will distribute greywater into a 375 square foot constructed wetland from which a 3,000 gallon irrigation filtration system will disperse flows to the irrigation system around the building. Stormwater management will replicate the hydrology of a natural forest utilizing rain gardens and infiltration ponds. This building is on schedule for completion in 2020.