Library Buildings around the World

“From the start, our students made it very clear that they wanted their college to uphold the highest standards of environmental
responsibility and stewardship,” said GGC President Daniel J. Kaufman. “Earning a LEED® Gold certification is a testament to our
students’ collective vision, our staff’s dedication to that vision, and the insightful skills of the building’s designers.”
Designing and constructing the facility to LEED specifications proved a challenge as libraries traditionally use large amounts of
energy for lighting and for climate control systems to preserve printed materials. Using an integrated design approach and strategy
that included high-efficiency lighting fixtures, windows that saturated 75 percent of the interior spaces with natural daylight as well
as efficient insulation, the team achieved a 32 percent reduction in energy use.
“LEO A DALY’s team designed a building that is not only beautiful, but functional and efficient,” Kaufman said. “The features that
contributed to earning the LEED® Gold certification are impressive. We are very proud of the entire project team’s work.”
As the library is located on a previously undeveloped site, the project team took several measures to minimize the clearance of the
site. Pre-construction discussions ensured that the disturbance limits were reduced. Utilizing four stories reduced the building
footprint and maximized the conservation of existing natural terrain around the building. This enabled preserving twice the outdoor
space to promote biodiversity and provided a high ratio of open space to development footprint.
Recycling and reusing materials during construction was another area of emphasis. More than 95 percent of the construction waste
was diverted from landfills to local recycling facilities. Almost 95 percent of the reinforced steel used was recycled from scrap cars.
The drywall used on the project is made of 95 percent recycled content and is a by-product of industrial waste material. All the wood
ceilings in the building are fabricated from 97 percent recycled materials. Additionally, more than 30 percent of the recycled content
was used within a 500-mile radius of the site.
Other sustainable elements included reducing the water use by 40 percent over the typical library through features such as highefficiency
restroom fixtures and occupant sensors; designing drought-tolerant landscaping for more efficient use of exterior water;
high indoor air quality; use of natural materials and finishes and using 2.5 percent environmentally-focused products as well as
products with low off-gassing.
Georgia State University, Library Transformation, Atlanta, Georgia – USA 2007
The design transformation for the library updates, unites, expands, and makes more user-friendly two buildings. The five- and eightstory
buildings were built over the last 40 years on the urban campus. The end result, which allows increased reader and collection
spaces (using compact shelving), reaches slightly over 300,000 SF. Grouped around a new 150-seat “Learning Commons,” users have
access to a great variety of study space options. Exciting glass-enclosed bridges, connecting the buildings at five levels (across a city
street), are filled with collaborative and interactive study stations and natural daylight. (Daly)
Roberts Wesleyan College, Golsisano Library, Rochester, NY – USA 2007
$ 10.000.000
Passero Associates was part of the design team preparing documents for this LEED certified building, serving as the civil
and site engineering subconsultant to the design architect and Roberts Wesleyan College for the $10 million Library project.
The design of the new Library on an existing parking lot required relocation of the displaced vehicles to an appropriate location with
pedestrian access to the campus. The new Library site was selected to become the focal point for the campus with views from
multiple locations. Pre-design services included a due diligence study, review of local zoning codes and a utility conditions report.
complement and elevate the architectural language of the campus; provide robust, invigoration, friendly, and collaborative study
environments; and illustrate the educational value and benefits of a sustainably designed library. (http://www.passero.com)
According to Roberts Wesleyan College, its $11 million B. Thomas Golisano Library has received a silver LEED rating from the U.S.
Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the
design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. The new library is one of the first colleges or universities to
receive silver LEED certification in the area. LEED certification was obtained after submitting an application documenting
compliance with the requirements of the rating system as well as paying registration and certification fees. "Receiving silver LEED
certification is a great honor," said Richard Greer, facilities director at Roberts Wesleyan College. "It reaffirms that we achieved
everything we set out to do. We have created a comfortable workspace that is both user-friendly and efficient, all while adhering to
the highest environmental standards The LEED process is rigorous, but worthwhile and we hope that the success of this project will
serve as an example to the community." Funding for the library was made possible through a $5 million contribution from Golisano.
An additional $7 million was raised from other sources and allocated to both the B. Thomas Golisano Library and to the original
library, which is being renovated, renamed and transformed into the Robert and Mary Hastings Academic Center. The lead
architectural firm, Leo A Daly with SWBR Architects, designed the two-story, 43,000 s/f library that incorporates unique design
elements, and was built with the environment top-of-mind. The library features an Information Commons comprised of a 1,600 s/f
café, a computer lab, group study rooms, large meeting rooms, and wireless capability throughout the facility. It also includes a
graduate study room, a reading room, and an upgraded archives and special collections area. LEED promotes a holistic approach to
sustainable design by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development,
water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. The library incorporates the following
aspects: * Renewable materials such as cork flooring and carpet squares made of highly recycled content and sunflower board
cabinetry. * T-5 fluorescent lighting. * Geothermal heating and cooling systems (pumps draw water from beneath the earth's surface
instead of from outside air to provide heating and air conditioning). * 100% "green E" power - energy derived from wind or bio
fuels. * Natural light leveraged throughout the building to extend energy efficiency, including white paint and solar shades that are
used to reflect the direct rays of the sun and bounce light to specific areas. The combined use of the employed energy-savings systems
account for the library being 40% more energy-efficient than what the NYS Energy Code recommends, according to NYSERDA.
(http://nyrej.com)
Palm Beach Atlantic University, Warren Libary, West Palm Beach, FL – USA 2007
Collaborative. Comfortable. Conversational. Casual. These are words that describe the atmosphere of PBA's Warren Library.
While there are places for solitary study, the overall atmosphere of the Warren Library encourages conversation and collaboration.
The Warren Library is an elegant architectural expression of how we see our University. It is a wonderful space filled with Florida
sunshine that draws students to the books, publications, technology and one another. Opened in 2007, the first month use of the
library increased 800 percent. It is now the place for students to be at Palm Beach Atlantic University and has transformed our
campus forever. (http://www.pba.eu)
Southern Methodist University (SMU), Fondren Library Addition, Dallas, TX – 2006
Incline Village Library, Incline Village, NV – USA 2005
Awards :
AIA Northern Nevada, Award of Citation 2007
ALA / IIDA ( International Interior Design Association), Inaugural Library Design Competition, Honor
Award 2006
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