Vanderbilt's Legacy of Adaptive Reuse

Both renovations and new construction at Vanderbilt University over the past several decades have applied the principles now codified in the LEED standards. Commitment to long-term ownership and recognition that the operating cost becomes the true expense of a facility across its useful life are often what initially drove responsible environmental planning.

The adaptive reuse of existing facilities and seeking creative ways to incorporate natural lighting have long been hallmarks of Vanderbilt facilities. Images are shown below of several of the atria that were created on campus to introduce daylight while allowing incorporation of existing square footage to avoid wasteful demolition. Dialogue with students over the past several years and the evolution of the LEED process inspired us to undertake LEED certification for new construction of The Commons.