Heartland Ag Complex named Green/LEED Development of the Year

Heartland Community College’s Agriculture Complex has been awarded for innovative design that supports sustainability. 

The Ag Complex was named Green/LEED Development of the Year Award in Illinois RE Journal’s 2026 Project Awards Competition. 

The judging criteria for the award include the use of innovative technologies and design, a positive environmental impact including energy efficiencies and material use, and a positive economic, social, or wellness benefit to the surrounding neighborhood. 

The 29,500-square-foot facility, designed by Legat Architects, demonstrates how high-performance design can reduce energy use, lower operating costs, and support workforce development. 

Construction of the Ag Complex, which opened in January of 2024, was supported by a $2M grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICEF).  The grant supported project costs and building components related to energy efficiency and renewable self-generation, enabling the project to achieve site net zero energy performance. 

“When planning the addition of a dedicated agriculture building for the college, it was important to consider not only the impact a facility would have in serving the community education and workforce needs, but also to think about how we could ensure resource stewardship,” said Heartland Community College President Keith Cornille. “Working with Legat, we were able to find ways to make the complex itself an educational tool. Our students have unique access to the efficient energy systems and can see how they work. And the net-zero energy design pairs with our solar and wind energy systems on campus to help with sustainability and model the technology our Renewable Energy Skills students learn to install and maintain.” 

The complex includes both instructional and community education spaces, including the McLean County Farm Bureau Agriculture Lab, the GROWMARK FS Atrium, and the Funk Family Foundation Outdoor Learning Center.