American Campus Communities recognized at 2026 Student Housing Business Innovator Awards

Byrnes Hall at Georgetown University honored for sustainable student housing development at InterFace Student Housing 2026 

AUSTIN, Texas, APRIL 1, 2026 – American Campus Communities today announced that Byrnes Hall at Georgetown University has been recognized in the On-Campus Best Use of Green & Sustainable Construction/Development category at the 2026 Student Housing Business Innovator Awards, presented during the annual InterFace Student Housing conference in Austin. The recognition highlights a next-generation sustainable residential community developed in collaboration with Georgetown University as part of the university’s Strategic Housing Plan. 

 
“We are proud to see this work recognized by Student Housing Business,” said James Wilhelm, chief development officer of American Campus Communities. “At ACC, our focus is on delivering housing solutions that respond to real university priorities, support the student experience and create long-term value through partnership. This recognition reflects the thoughtful collaboration behind Byrnes Hall and the commitment of the teams who brought it to life.” 

 
Byrnes Hall was developed in collaboration with Georgetown University to deliver modern, high-performance housing for approximately 740 students while advancing the university’s long-term campus vision. The community achieved LEED v4 Platinum certification and incorporates an all-electric design, high-performance building systems and integrated site strategies. Key sustainability features include approximately 22 percent modeled annual energy cost savings, 48 percent total water use reduction, rooftop solar generation and green roof systems. 

 
In addition to ACC’s recognition, design partner SCB was honored in the On-Campus Best Implementation of Mixed-Use/Live-Learn category for its work on the Arizona State University Herberger Institute Living-Learning Community, further reflecting the strength of the broader project team and its collaborative approach to student-centered design. 


The Student Housing Business Innovator Awards recognize excellence across on-campus and off-campus student housing, honoring projects, partnerships and solutions that advance the category. 

 

About American Campus Communities 

American Campus Communities is the nation's largest developer, owner, and manager of premium student housing communities throughout the United States. With extensive experience in design, finance, development, construction management, and operational oversight, the company has facilitated over 115 public-private partnership (P3) transactions at 65 colleges and universities nationwide. Visit www.americancampus.com and follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X to stay up to date on the latest student housing news. 

 

About SCB

SCB is an architecture, planning, interior and urban design firm. Founded in Chicago in 1931, SCB provides design services from four locations across the US. SCB is at the forefront of dense urban living, innovative workplaces, inspiring learning environments, resilient infrastructure, and vibrant communities. Through the collective impact of nearly a century of work, the firm has made an indelible mark on the contemporary landscape. For more information, visit www.scb.com.