In an effort to increase the School of Architecture’s role in sustainability and make students more marketable in this difficult economy, the School of Architecture now offers LEED accreditation.

LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, was created by the United States Green Building Council to give designers incentives to make decisions toward a sustainable building approach. The initiative was launched at Notre Dame in the fall of 2008 to allow all fourth-year, fifth-year, and graduate students, as well as faculty members to become qualified as LEED-accredited professionals.

Workshops and study groups are held to prepare participants for the exam, and the School of Architecture will reimburse those who become accredited. In time, the school plans to develop this program into a required part of the curriculum.