In response to a directive from University leadership to design a highly sustainable research facility, the McCourtney Hall East LEED Platinum Project Team achieved a historic landmark by securing Notre Dame’s first-ever LEED Platinum certification—the highest possible international rating awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council. Overcoming the substantial utility demands inherent to advanced research laboratories, the cross-disciplinary team integrated cutting-edge environmental engineering, including geothermal campus heating, lab-air heat-recovery systems, and a native-landscaped courtyard designed to capture stormwater and recharge the local aquifer.
Reclaiming nearly 30 percent of the surrounding landscape with native vegetation and achieving a 41 percent reduction in water usage, the team proved that complex scientific infrastructure can lead the way in environmental stewardship and resilient campus design.
Congratulations to the McCourtney Hall East LEED Platinum Project Team for winning the Presidential Team Irish Award!
Originally published by at ndworks.nd.edu on September 15, 2026.