University of Miami Centennial Village

Overview

Centennial Village is a phased development that offers first-year students at the University of Miami on-campus student housing with a high-performance healthy living environment. The development includes five new residential towers, each containing 9 to 10 floors, with a combined total of 2,000 beds.

The Coral and Ibis towers, along with the campus dining component, achieved LEED Gold certification in May 2025, and the Biscayne and Grove towers achieved LEED Gold certification in August 2026, as did Vista tower. The Eaton Residential College was also part of the project. Additionally, the buildings were designed to meet thermal comfort, air, water, light and acoustics qualities as recommended by the WELL certification program. Lakefront amenities, outdoor venues, dining facilities, collaborative study spaces, meditation and recreation rooms enhance student health and facilitate a better learning experience.

TLC performed energy analyses to support the University’s energy-efficiency goals, developing energy models to optimize the energy-reducing effects of sun shading, building glazing, envelope performance, and a chilled beam HVAC system. The final design is anticipated to reduce annual operating costs by 37%.

The team also investigated energy systems such as piezoelectric flooring and photovoltaic thermal hybrid panels, which generate electricity and hot water simultaneously. TLC used WeatherShift projections through 2080 to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of the project’s resiliency strategies.

TLC designed an air-cleaning system that reduces contaminants below typical design thresholds. Carbon dioxide concentration levels are reduced by 62%, from the ASHRAE standard of 1,200 ppm to an average of 750 ppm. Studies show benefits from reduced carbon dioxide concentrations in buildings, including better cognitive performance, improved sleep, and positive impacts on anxiety and depression symptoms for building occupants.