Kaiser Borsari Hall Earns Historic Dual ILFI Zero Energy and Zero Carbon Certification

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Kaiser Borsari Hall Earns Historic Dual ILFI Zero Energy and Zero Carbon Certification

October 21, 2026

Kaiser Borsari Hall reached a major sustainability milestone with its recent dual certification by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) as a Zero Carbon and Zero Energy building. With this achievement, Kaiser Borsari Hall became the first higher education STEM building in the United States to earn both certifications simultaneously-and the first state-funded building in Washington to receive ILFI certification as an approved alternative to the LEED Silver standard required by state law.

The building, which houses Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science, and the Institute for Energy Studies, opened for instruction in January of 2025. Since then, Kaiser Borsari has quickly become a favorite for study and collaborative work, as well as for classes and labs.

The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) is one of the most rigorous sustainability certification bodies in the built environment. Unlike LEED, which awards credits based on design intent and construction practices, ILFI's Zero Energy and Zero Carbon certifications are grounded entirely in measured, third-party verified building performance. To achieve Zero Energy certification, a building must demonstrate that 100% of its annual energy use has been offset by renewable energy over a minimum 12-month period of actual operation. As much renewable energy as possible must be generated on-site through solar and/or wind power. Zero Carbon certification requires additionally that the building's embodied carbon-the greenhouse gas emissions generated in the production of building materials and during construction-has been addressed through documented reduction and third-party verified offsets.

The design team decided early to target the ILFI certification. To do so, the WWU project team had to first make the case to Washington state to recognize ILFI's performance-based certifications as approved alternatives to LEED Silver, which has been the state-required standard for all major publicly funded buildings since 2005. With the Legislature's approval, this decision established a precedent that opens the pathway for other state agencies and public universities to pursue rigorous, performance-verified certifications in place of LEED. Earning both Zero Energy and Zero Carbon designations simultaneously places Kaiser Borsari Hall among a very small number of buildings worldwide to hold the dual ILFI designation.

From the beginning, Kaiser Borsari Hall has looked to the future, with a commitment to long-term sustainability, a focus on adaptability for evolving teaching and learning methods, an understanding of growing workforce needs for STEM graduates, and a holistic approach to welcoming all learners to support creative collaboration across campus and beyond. The design process included consideration of, in the words of Perkins&Will director of regenerative design, Devin Kleiner, "clients without a seat at the table," including current and future Western students and the ecology of both the site and the planet.

Many of the building's most remarkable features elevate the project in multiple ways. The mass timber structure sequesters carbon and is the primary means by which a 70% reduction in A1-A5 carbon impacts was achieved. The exposed mass timber structure and the traditionally charred wooden siding also echo the neighboring arboretum, which is framed through large windows, creating a sense of being immersed in the natural ecology of the site. In addition to supporting health and intellectual functioning, that sense of connection highlights a key reason sustainability features and innovative learning environments are crucial - supporting the thriving of the planet and its people.

Similarly, high-performance mechanical systems and materials, a solar array that covers more than 75% of the roof surface, and passive design strategies allow the building to achieve carbon neutrality and operate with a zero-energy footprint, while also offering experiential learning opportunities for students and a chance to engage deeply with emerging technologies and sustainable practices. Visible mechanical systems and control receptacles in lab, classroom, and office spaces invite collective participation in energy management. Intelligent building controls adjust temperature and ventilation in unoccupied spaces, and daylight harvesting reduces the need for artificial light.

In its first full year of operation, Kaiser Borsari Hall recorded a measured site Energy Use Intensity (EUI) of 33.4 kBtu per square foot per year- one of the lowest among buildings on the WWU campus and more than 80% less than a comparable code-minimum laboratory building would typically consume. The building's efficiency results from a fully electric Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system; a dedicated heat recovery ventilation unit that captures heat from ventilation air; Variable Frequency Drive on both supply and exhaust fans that modulate to actual occupancy demand; an air-source heat pump water; and three inches of continuous mineral wool insulation paired with a rigorously airtight envelope. The 82-kilowatt rooftop photovoltaic array generated over 83,000 kilowatt-hours in the first year, offsetting up to 35% of monthly electricity use during peak summer months.

Kaiser Borsari was also designed to create spaces where students with different learning styles and backgrounds can find both inspiration and support for pursuing careers in STEM fields. An emphasis on accessibility led to the inclusion of a Learning Commons for Neurodiversity, flexible furniture and equipment, and gender-neutral ADA restrooms. The welcoming student lounge, breakout and study spaces along circulation paths, a student-centered lobby with multiple seating areas, and ground floor gathering spaces all support collaboration, creativity, and interdisciplinary learning. An event space hosts industry partners and provides space for practical and intellectual exploration.

The design and construction of Kaiser Borsari Hall also represent collaborative relationships, with funding drawn both from public and private sources. It is named for Fred Kaiser and Grace Borsari, longtime friends and champions of WWU, who committed the lead gift alongside state and federal funds to finance the project. The Western project team worked closely with the design team at Perkins&Will and Mortenson, the general contractor and construction manager, throughout the design and building process to meet ambitious sustainability and academic goals. ILFI certification was officially awarded in August 2026, following a 12-month third-party audit of the building's metered energy performance. The result is a cutting-edge facility that will serve generations of students and support innovative new leaders for Washington state and the world.