Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design
A degree that combines creativity, systems thinking, and sustainability to solve real-world challenges.
→ Follow a Unique, Interdisciplinary Path
→ Gain Skills for Real Impact
→ Shape a More Sustainable Future
What is the Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design?
The Sustainable Design Program incorporates design, architecture, landscape architecture, and urban and regional planning to address the places, things, systems, and policies needed to help solve problems in a sustainable society. Students follow an innovative, interdisciplinary, and unique course of study that prepares them for jobs in the public or private sector, or to continue their education in a variety of graduate programs.
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With the BSSD Opportunity Scholarship, awardee Julia Konrath completed her LEED Certification this spring! The scholarship supports Sustainable Design students pursuing ambitious academic or professional projects that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive.
BSSD: Tell us about your project.
JK: With the Opportunity Scholarship, I was able to purchase a study package to strengthen my foundation in LEED and to prepare for the LEED GA exam. I completed the course that included a textbook, flashcards, and full-length exams that built my confidence in LEED concepts. I passed the LEED GA exam in April 2026 and I am now confident to apply green building principles in my future projects and jobs.
BSSD: How has the BSSD Opportunity Scholarship supported your academic or professional development?
JK: The BSSD Opportunity Scholarship made it possible for me to complete the LEED Green Associate credential while working towards my Sustainable Design degree. By reducing financial pressure of purchasing the study materials, the scholarship allowed me to dedicate time to studying, take practice exams, and cover the cost of the test. The support brought me confidence in understanding green building principles and seeking professional opportunities in renewable energy systems. I hope to become a sustainability consultant, and the Opportunity Scholarship made me confident in reaching that goal.
BSSD: What are your future goals or plans for the project?
JK: Earning my Leed Green Associate credential is a step toward my professional goal of becoming a sustainability consultant specializing in renewable energy systems. I plan to apply my LEED knowledge and credentials to local projects, deepen my understanding of low-carbon strategies, and help produce high-performing systems. I hope to help organizations and companies become more resilient, efficient, and climate-positive by applying renewable solutions into the built environment.
Congratulations Julia!
Today we are featuring awardee Elise Koch and the fabrication of her walnut coffee table made in the course ARCH 410. Elise is one of 6 recipients of the Spring 2026 BSSD Opportunity Scholarship, an award that supports Sustainable Design majors pursuing ambitious academic or professional projects that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive.
BSSD: Tell us about your project.
EK: I created a walnut coffee table with inlay butterflies and a collapsible base. I finished it with walnut oil, shellac, and polycrylic, and it is ready for its full and beautiful life ahead!
BSSD: How has the BSSD Opportunity Scholarship supported your academic or professional development?
EK: Without this scholarship, I wouldn`t have been able to take risks and discover the beauty of a hobby that produces beautiful objects and changes the creator along the way. I`ve so enjoyed learning the art of woodworking and this scholarship made the process stress free as new issues arose and I rushed to fix them.
As I continue my creative work, the ability to present my projects in different mediums will help me communicate goals and visions for projects more effectively... With the skills learned from making this furniture piece, I will be able to take it into my future work as a planner. That could look like drafting design solutions for public space, building them myself, or having a greater understanding of all elements in a proposal.
Congratulations Elise!
This month we are sharing the work of six students awarded the Spring 2026 BSSD Opportunity Scholarship. The scholarship supports Sustainable Design majors pursuing ambitious academic or professional projects that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive. Today we are featuring awardee Kylee Jansen and her capstone project, “Stormwater Management with Rain Gardens.”
BSSD: Tell us about your project.
KJ: The addition of rain gardens and permeable pavement mitigates the impact of stormwater on and around the field at Gayle Miller Softball Complex in Wahpeton, North Dakota. These rain gardens incorporate only native plants, and they can accommodate water collected from the tarped infield after up to 2 inches of rain in 24 hours without flooding the surrounding greenspace. The three gardens will filter water as it reenters local waterways, support native birds and pollinators, and enhance the complex`s year-round aesthetic appeal.
BSSD: How has the BSSD Opportunity Scholarship supported your academic or professional development?
KJ: The BSSD Opportunity Scholarship allowed me to purchase software including SketchUp, Adobe Creative Cloud, and Procreate. During this project, I integrated concepts I have learned throughout my Sustainable Design studies and applied them to landscape design. With the BSSD Opportunity Scholarship, I developed my SketchUp skills to create a visual of my design at the existing site and learned new skills in Adobe software to polish imagery and create my final capstone poster.
BSSD: What are your future goals or plans for the project?
KJ: In the future, I want to continue to develop my design and create cut section drawings of the rain gardens. I also plan to incorporate the project into my portfolio. Remaining funds from the BSSD Opportunity Scholarship go towards printing costs for my portfolio.
Congratulations Kylee!
Today we are featuring Opportunity Scholarship awardee Anna Hruska and her project "Making a 17th Century Dress." This scholarship supports Sustainable Design students pursuing ambitious academic or professional projects that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive.
BSSD: Tell us about your project.
AH: The goal of this project was to test my skills as a designer and a craftsperson to create a complex, high-quality garment.
Materiality is critical when constructing a project, and thus, I have endeavored to find fibers and textile weights that mimic what would have been used during the period. This means that it is all natural fiber, predominantly linen and silk. While contemporary manufacturing processes are very different from what they used to be, I have found what I and the historical costuming community believe to be the closest substitutes.
BSSD: How has the BSSD Opportunity Scholarship supported your academic or professional development?
AH: I would not have been able to take on this endeavor without the support of the BSSD Opportunity Scholarship. I wanted to do it right and use high quality materials from trusted sellers and this fund allowed me to do that.
Congratulations Anna!
Today we are featuring Opportunity Scholarship awardee Lauren Wright and her project, “Lawngevity.” This scholarship supports Sustainable Design majors pursuing ambitious academic or professional projects.
Lauren`s scholarship funded LEED Green Associate certification preparation, SketchUp design software, and sustainable prototyping materials for her BSSD Capstone.
BSSD: Tell us about your project.
LW: I successfully presented my Sustainable Design capstone project along with a physical prototype that showcased the concept and overall functionality of the design. In addition, I earned my U.S. Green Building Council LEED Green Associate certification, which strengthened my knowledge of sustainable building practices, environmental stewardship, and responsible material selection. I have also continued developing my digital modeling and visualization skills through SketchUp, allowing me to create more detailed and professional design renderings to support future project development and presentation materials.
BSSD: How has the BSSD Opportunity Scholarship supported your academic or professional development?
LW: The BSSD Opportunity Scholarship has had a major impact on my growth as a student and designer. It allowed me to earn my U.S. Green Building Council LEED Green Associate certification, improve my skills in SketchUp, and create a physical prototype for my capstone. These experiences helped me feel more confident in my abilities and gave me hands on experience applying sustainable design concepts to a real project that I am passionate about pursuing in my future career.
BSSD: What are your future goals or plans for the project?
LW: My future goals for the project are to continue developing my skills in sustainable and ecological design while beginning my professional career after graduation. I also plan to bring the project into a real world setting by planting the native plants from my capstone project in my own yard. Doing this will allow me to continue learning from the project beyond the classroom while creating a pollinator friendly space that reflects the sustainable values and goals that inspired the project in the first place.
Congrats Lauren!
Happy Summer! This month we are featuring the work of six students awarded the Spring 2026 BSSD Opportunity Scholarship. This scholarship supports Sustainable Design majors pursuing ambitious academic or professional projects that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive. Today we are featuring awardee Aarushi Kaul and her project, “The Thinking Chair.”
BSSD: Tell us about your project.
AK: My project consisted of creating my own plywood from raw wood and creating a chair out of that plywood. I have completed the chair, and it is now ready to use.
BSSD: How has the BSSD Opportunity Scholarship supported your academic or professional development?
AK: The BSSD Opportunity Scholarship allowed me to purchase all the necessary materials to complete this project. It allowed me to develop myself academically in a way I had never had before. Prior to this class, I had never done woodworking before, and the Opportunity Scholarship allowed me the opportunity to learn about a new drafting method.”
BSSD: What are your future goals or plans for the project?
AK: In the future, I would like to experiment with different types of wood, different methods to make plywood, and different staining techniques. I`d also like to create a cushion tailored to the chair itself, so that it is comfortable for long-term sitting.
Congratulations Aarushi!
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and our surrounding community is a living lab for sustainability! These photos are from a tour of key sustainable building sites in the area led by professor Mark Taylor this April, as part of FAA 330 Making Sustainable Design. The field trip included stops at the Solar Decathalon House in Rantoul, the Gabel Home at the Energy Farm, and the Miscanthus Lab Facility at the University of Illinois.
About this core course: All Sustainable Design majors take FAA 330, which introduces techniques and tools for representing and realizing sustainable design at multiple scales. The class includes hands-on assignments, tutorials, workshops, and field trips.
Students visited the Solar Decathalon House in Rantoul, IL, a home designed to optimize energy efficiency alongside comfort and livability.
The Gabel House, nearby, is an earlier iteration and learning prototype for advancing ongoing research in sustainable residential design.
The tour concluded at the Miscanthus Lab Facility, a research and demonstration space exploring alternative bio-based building materials. The lab features experimental wall assemblies, including miscanthus, hemp-based materials, and conventional insulation. The facility connects material research to real-world applications, highlighting how agricultural byproducts can shape the future of sustainable construction.
BSSD is hiring a gallery assistant! Application Deadline 5:00 pm June 29! Undergraduate and Graduate Students are Encouraged to Apply for this Student Hourly Position.
8-10 hours per week, $16-19 per hour, hybrid location
To apply, email your materials to Karin Hodgin Jones, Director, Sustainable Design Program khodgin2@illinois.edu with the subject line Gallery Assistant Application
Include the following materials: Resume; Cover Letter describing your interest and qualifications; and Work Samples (photography, design, video, writing, or related work) as a single PDF or link
The Sustainable Design Program seeks an undergraduate / graduate student hourly Gallery Assistant to work with program staff in support of exhibitions, events, communications, and gallery operations for the Sustainable Design Gallery. Located in the Architecture Building, the Sustainable Design Gallery is the University’s first exhibition space dedicated to sustainable design, presenting exhibitions and public programs featuring students, faculty, researchers, visiting designers, and campus partners. This position provides hands-on experience in exhibition production, arts administration, photography, marketing, and event planning.
Responsibilities:
- Assist with exhibition installation and deinstallation
- Support receptions, lectures, workshops, and special events
- Prepare exhibition and promotional material
- Photograph and document exhibitions and events
- Maintain physical and digital archives
Support outreach, submissions, and research activities
- Assist with social media and communications
Required Qualifications:
- Strong organizational skills and reliability
- Availability to assist with gallery events
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Excellent communication skills
- Timely and professional email communication
- Willingness to learn and take direction
- Access to a computer
- Photography experience
- Ability to perform light physical tasks, including lifting 20 pounds and using a ladder
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with Registered Student Organizations or community groups
- Familiarity with Google Docs and Sheets
- Graphic Design skills u
