Graduate Certificate in Design of Living Buildings in Philadelphia United States | Thomas Jefferson University

The Living Building Challenge serves as both a sustainability certification and design framework that redefines excellence for constructed spaces. This graduate program concentrates on creating and certifying living structures, emphasizing regenerative designs that foster deep connections with natural elements like sunlight, fresh air, local food sources, green spaces, and social networks. Throughout this curriculum, students first gain foundational knowledge of sustainable design principles and the Living Building Challenge fundamentals. The program then progresses to exploring technical requirements for achieving certification, highlighting simulation techniques, performance analysis, and verification processes. The culminating experience is a Living Building Design Studio, where students collaborate with industry experts who have successfully completed Challenge projects, concluding with each participant developing their own living building design.