Odum School of Ecology

Information

Location Athens, Georgia
Size 150,000 SF
Completion 2010
Services Architecture
Project Type Science and Technology

The Odum School of Ecology at the University of Georgia will transform education and research by setting a new benchmark as the world’s most sustainable academic lab building. The design’s innovative strategies — green roofs, living walls, water treatment system, photovoltaic cells, natural ventilation, daylight, double skin facades and a collaboration corridor — reinforce the spirit of founder Eugene Odum’s approach to ecosystem ecology by creating a living laboratory that will foster regenerative relationships between the student, researchers, visitors and the natural systems at work in the building and site.

The feasibility study completed for the Odum School of Ecology developed new understandings of how an intensive University Laboratory Building could potentially achieve the Living Building Challenge expectations.

As the world’s first living laboratory, Odum School of Ecology will mimic nature in its ability to harvest what it needs from the site and operate waste-free. The building focuses heavily on the life of water by thinking holistically and pedagogically about water. The students will learn about ecological wastewater treatment and employ the system to revitalize two existing watersheds and restore the site’s stream to its original connect ion with the Chattahoochee River.

The school will take advantage of its prominent site on campus, and its location along the path to Sanford stadium, to reach out to the almost 1.8 million visitors who visit the campus annually by offering tours and programs that educate about a more integrated way of living. The project is based on the principles of pedagogy, biodiversity, livability, energy, water and nutrient cycling. It demonstrates that the teaching process, research process and the physical building can be one and the same.

People

Team

Bob Berkebile
Craig Scranton
Steve McDowell
Bradley Nies
Valerie Frye
Joshua Hemberger
Steve Padget

Client

The University of Georgia

At the University of Georgia, our philosophy has been innovation, collaboration with the ultimate goal of transformation. Every one of our buildings has somewhat of a transforming quality to it because we believe that our buildings are learning tools and vessels themselves to help our students. I can say that in all the years I’ve been here, in close to two billion dollars of construction in the last fifteen years, we’ve never found a firm that I can speak more highly of about the innovation, collaboration and transformation than BNIM. What we went through in the design of the Odum School of Ecology was truly just that — it was a phenomenal chemistry that we’re all excited about and want to take forward. What we found is that you can’t just look at something in isolation. BNIM demonstrated how the [Odum School of Ecology] could become more — and it should be, because it is the first school of ecology in the country.

Danny Sniff, Associate VP for Facilities, University of Georgia

The idea that it could become more is indicated by the beauty and potential of the site, with the two watersheds and proximity to the river. There’s so much here to carry this concept on so many levels. There wasn’t any selling that needed to be done. Everyone said: this makes so much sense, it’s just got to happen. Many other projects are just buildings — buildings that will house faculty and students — which is what everybody else is selling in the country from the private elementary school, private high school, to any college you want to step foot into. The Odum School of Ecology building is the big idea that stirs imagination in people who philosophically believe in sustainability and this curriculum whole-heartedly. That is what is uniquely different about this project from anything other. One of the things that is great about the design for the Odum School of Ecology is that it grabs your imagination. It speaks to the idea of pedagogy, and to the quizzical nature of people. It also speaks to the fact that we don’t completely understand the environment and it is still a mystery that pushes us towards this solution that comes closer to understanding. This building will be an instrument of the research that goes back to engage the imagination and the curious nature of things. There will be things that will probably fail, but that’s part of the learning aspect of higher education. I want to make sure we never under-thank Bob and Steve and Craig and everybody who added to this – the BNIM team. We’re so indebted to this collaboration. It unfolded into something that we are so ready to brag about.

Danny Sniff, Associate VP for Facilities, University of Georgia

BNIM’s role in creating the Living Building concept is now providing zero-impact solutions to those who seek the highest level of sustainable design available. There is not a single building being designed that approaches [Odum School of Ecology’s] level of sustainable stewardship.

Ray Anderson, Chairman of the Board, Interface