image: A drone shot of S. R. Crown Hall on Illinois Institute of Technology's campus, with a graphic showing ZEDD recognition for the College of Architecture.
Credit: Illinois Institute of Technology
CHICAGO—September 13, 2024—The College of Architecture at Illinois Institute of Technology has been awarded the prestigious Zero Energy Design Designation (ZEDD) from the United States Department of Energy (DOE) for it Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture programs. This recognition highlights the college’s commitment to sustainability, carbon neutrality, and zero-energy design practices in a world of escalating extreme weather and climate change.
The designation is awarded to institutions that “demonstrate a commitment to preparing students for a zero-carbon future by offering a building science education curriculum within their programs of study that showcases best practices in zero-energy design and requiring a zero-energy design practicum.”
Illinois Institute of Technology’s programs met the ZEDD standards under the leadership of Assistant Professor of Architecture Youngjin Hwang, who spearheaded efforts to align the curriculum with DOE’s learning objectives.
“In the field of architecture, sustainability, carbon neutrality, and high performance building design are now essential,” says Hwang. “This designation involves our distinctive pedagogical approach to educate the next generation of architecture professionals.”
Throughout the past year, Hwang collaborated with faculty and department chairs, with the support of Rowe Family College Dean Endowed Chair Reed Kroloff, to establish an updated yearlong course in environment and building systems for the bachelor’s and master’s programs. This course, adopted as part of ZEDD’s Building Science Education Curriculum requirement, incorporates new lecture content and in-class workshops that provide various building performance simulation techniques.
The College of Architecture is one of just 26 institutions recognized by the DOE for their commitment to zero-energy design since ZEDD launched in 2022. Illinois Institute of Technology had previously received the ZEDD for its architectural engineering program in 2022. The designation will remain in effect through 2027.