We are thrilled to announce that the Davis Center at Williams College has been awarded the 2025 IES Boston Award for Sustainability. This award is given to a project that considers environmental and social factors, promotes sustainable practices and ethical design choices, and showcases how the team minimized material waste and utilized sustainable materials.

The Davis Center’s lighting design advances Williams College’s pursuit of Living Building Challenge Petal Certification (LBC 4.0) by minimizing both operational and embodied carbon, achieving performance over 50% below energy code. Using only Red List–free hardware and carefully vetted materials, the design integrates daylight, energy-efficient controls, and low-impact fixtures such as 3D-printed pendants made from wood and corn pulp. Exterior lighting strategies protect dark skies through fully shielded, downward-directed illumination, while collaboration with the landscape architect reduced outdoor material reflectivity. Together, these strategies create a welcoming, inclusive environment that is both socially and environmentally responsible.