Neutral.Edison is officially registered for Living Building Challenge (LBC) 4.0. Core certification—one of the most rigorous sustainability standards in the world. Created by the International Living Future Institute (Living Future), the certification ensures projects deliver positive environmental and social impact through seven key Petals: Place, Energy, Water, Health + Happiness, Materials, Equity, and Beauty.
At 31 stories, Neutral.Edison will be among the tallest mass timber residential buildings globally—and one of the largest LBC-certified residential developments. In addition, designed to pursue Passive House (PHIUS Core 2021) principles, the project demonstrates how high-rise buildings can be both sustainable and financially viable.
LBC 4.0 Core certification helped shape our design approach.
Materials Petal
The Materials Petal ensures responsible sourcing and transparency in material selection. It requires that developers not only use sustainable materials, like mass timber, but also puts strict requirements on the supply chain. In particular, LBC requires a large portion of the lumber to be FSC certified, guaranteeing that the wood is sourced from responsibly managed forests. Neutral made FSC certification a key part of our supplier selection process, reinforcing our commitment to sustainable sourcing.
Energy Petal
The Energy Petal requires projects to move toward net-positive energy by minimizing consumption and integrating renewable sources.
Our team worked with Living Future during a pre-registration feasibility review to reduce energy use intensity by 50% compared to similar buildings of this type (ASHRAE 90.1-2010) by combining several bold measures:
- A passive house building envelope with triple glazed windows;
- Using the river water for geothermal cooling;
- Tapping into the district grid and using its excess steam for heating (and procuring renewables to offset any heating energy attributed to combustion).
- Additionally, the project will address embodied carbon emissions (those associated with the production and transport of building materials and related construction activities) by selecting building materials that have a lower carbon footprint.
Reaching the LBC performance threshold is a significant design and engineering achievement and an illustration of Neutral’s commitment to reducing our projects’ carbon footprint while maintaining its financial viability.
Place
The Place Petal challenges projects to enhance their surroundings. .
Neutral.Edison has secured a 100-year lease for land adjacent to the Milwaukee river front which will be turned into a park that will remain open 24/7 for the city residents. Our LBC commitment includes restoring the Milwaukee riverfront’s native landscape by replanting native plants and restoring natural habitat that would have been found pre-development right in the urban downtown.
The Place Petal is just one example of how LBC certification expands the perception of sustainability from efficiency to creating spaces that feel good to live in.
A New Benchmark for Sustainable High-Rises
Daniel Glaessl, Neutral’s Chief Product Officer reinforces this point: “LBC’s approach is in line with Neutral’s belief that regenerative development is ultimately about creating better places to live in for residents and neighbors alike.”
Neutral.Edison is currently under construction and is scheduled for opening in 2027. Certification will be granted once a third-party audit is completed and the project demonstrates performance criteria after 12 months of continued occupancy.
By embracing the Living Building Challenge Core certification, Neutral.Edison is redefining what’s possible for high-rise residential design.
