Purpose: To identify some of the barriers to mobilizing students of higher education in sustainable initiatives, in order to enhance project success on campuses. Design/methodology/approach: Uses a case study of a model green building retrofit on the College of Charleston campus in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. Several constraints already identified in the literature are pin-pointed in this case study as well as additional barriers important for understanding success (or the lack of success) of sustainability efforts. Using participant observation, delineates new impediments and lists previously studied constraints from existing literature. Findings: Previous barriers identified include: stereotypes associated with activism; apathy among students; lack of tangible results; lack of coordination among the campus community; troubling national policies; cuts in state budgets; lack of project funding; and lack of sufficient time to implement satisfactory projects. New barriers include: the emotional dynamics between students and the issues associated with an urban, municipal, historic campus. Research limitations/implications: The case study is based on results after one year of project work versus long-term results. The conclusions are intended to help all campuses, but particularly include historic and urban institutions and emotional dynamics between case study participants. Practical implications: Overcoming barriers for an urban campus has the practical implications of a beneficial student project for both campus and community stakeholders. Originality/value: The addition of these constraints to the list of barriers will help campus mobilization efforts to better anticipate and address concerns of students, and take into account the real-world issues associated with sustainability, such as corresponding with the local municipality's needs, particularly addressing stringent historic preservation codes and various socio-economic groups. (Contains 1 table and 5 notes.)