LEED Lab is a course designed to explore sustainability principles through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification process. LEED is an internationally recognized green building rating system and LEED Lab provides students with first-hand green building experience to prepare them for the workforce upon graduation. 

LEED Lab was first pioneered at Catholic U over 10 years ago. Since then, the model has been adopted at numerous architecture schools across the country. Through the class, students have certified the Crough Center, established a campus-wide LEED “Master Site”, and completed a feasibility study to recertify Opus Hall. Most notably, the Crough Center was the first architecture school in the nation to be LEED-certified by students. 

In Spring 2020, LEED Lab students focused their efforts on recertifying the Crough Center under the LEED for Existing Buildings and Operations and Maintenance version 4 rating system. Students selected the Crough Center because the students feel a sense of “ownership” towards the building, and want to maintain its sustainability.

The Facilities Planning and Management Division (FPM) worked hand-in-hand with the students to provide the information needed about the Crough Center and its connections to the Power Plant. Early in the semester, LEED Lab students visited FPM at the Power Plant to conduct a tour of the major energy-consuming systems on campus. FPM and BKM & Associates gave the students detailed insight into the major infrastructure changes at the Power Plant and on campus due to the Energy Project.

LEED Lab ended in April 2020 with the students giving a final presentation of each of their assigned credits. They developed a clear and precise list of available credits to seek during the certification process and a list of low-cost credits ready to implement. Due to COVID-19 social distance guidelines, the students could not conduct in-person energy audits; however, they succeeded in laying the groundwork for Fall 2020 LEED Lab students.

Green-collar jobs are increasing in the marketplace and courses such as LEED Lab provide students with a leg-up over their peers. FPM is confident the students in LEED Lab gain a marketable foundation in green building and look forward to seeing how they will implement the lessons in their future careers.