“Becoming Green”: Resilient and Green Building as Risk Mitigation in Atlanta, Georgia

Buildings constructed with resilience in mind can serve as spaces of refuge during natural disasters and mitigate the effects of these events through effective stormwater management or energy independence. The “Kendeda” living building in Atlanta, Georgia, was built to moderate these risks and serve as an example of regenerative and green building practices in the American South. It is the first building that was awarded the living building challenge certification in the South West in order to showcase that regenerative and climate-sensitive building is possible even in hot and humid climates. This article investigates in which ways the Kendeda building contributes to climate-sensitive and resilient building practices and how building standards can reduce disaster risks and promote equity. Whereas the green building standards LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and LBC (Living Building Challenge) are critically evaluated, the case study highlights that on the one hand green building standards provide tangible solutions with regard to disaster prevention and resilience. On the other hand, the study establishes that single “eco-cathedrals” [Eco-cathedrals are a concept introduced by urban planner Hans Schulte to refer to flagship projects that serve an inspirational function and as cultural nodes (Günter 2010)]. will not suffice as a mitigation strategy, but more widespread application of green building standards is necessary to achieve climate goals and create resilient communities. This chapter conceptualizes the term “eco-cathedral” in a more ambidextrous way: On the one hand, eco-cathedrals serve as inspiring flagship projects. On the other hand, they often stand alone, serving more of a representational function, and their achievements are oftentimes not transferred to more low-cost projects.