Library Buildings around the World

DattnerArchitects The project received LEED® Silver Certification from the United States Green Building Council. It is the first
public building in New York City and the first library in The New York Public Library system to receive LEED certification
(Dattner)
Davis Brody Bond Aedas, New York – USA
http://www.davisbrody.com
Davis Brody Bond is now Aedas http://www.aedas.com
Libraries:
Benning Neighborhood Library, Washington, DC - USA 2011
Benning Library is located on a sloped site along Benning Road, N.E. The building is terraced into the terrain allowing access from
both Benning Road at the upper level and from a commercial shopping area at the lower level. The two floors of the 22,000 square
foot facility are connected by a public stair inside the building, creating a space which encourages pedestrian circulation through the
library in order to connect one street elevation to another. Benning Library utilizes a warm color palette of earth tones and a copper
panel facade to complement its residential setting. Approximately 315 copper panels chosen for the exterior reflect the sun and
provide a warm glow in the late afternoon. The completed facility includes community spaces on the lower level including a 100person
multi-purpose room, two 12-person conference rooms and a public gathering and exhibition space. The upper level of the
library houses the library’s collection, which on opening day included 40,000 books, DVDs, CDs and other library materials. The
library has space to allow the collection to expand to up to 80,000 items. Additionally, the upper level features separate reading areas
for adults, teens and children, as well as the children’s program area. Five small study rooms offer opportunities for quiet study or
tutoring sessions. The library has 32 computers for public use. Designed to meet LEED Silver Certification, Benning Library
incorporates a vegetative green roof, a displacement air system, solar control and daylight management and extensive use of
recyclable and renewable materials. The quality and nature of light was an important factor in the design approach. The library is
situated in a bowl-like condition with ample southern exposure. Davis)
District of Columbia Public Library, Benning Neighborhood Dorothy I. Height Library, Washington, DC
– USA 2010
The library received LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for environmentally sustainable design. It has
won a number of other design awards, including:
- Building of America Award 2010
- Associated General Contractors Washington Contractor Award 2010
- National Association of Contractors and Builders Proclamation Award 2010
- Developers and Builders Alliance Community Advancement Award, Best Developments of the Year, USA & Canada 2010
- North American Copper in Architecture Award, New Construction 2010
- Icestone Installation Award, Commercial Interiors 2010
- Washington Building Congress Craftsmanship Award for Special Construction – Thermal and Moisture Protection Category 2011
The District of Columbia Public Library opened the new 22,000 square-foot Benning Neighborhood Library on Monday. It is the
first of five new libraries to open this year and one of two designed by Davis Brody Bond Adeas. In addition to celebrating the
library’s opening, the event showcased the district’s rapidly improving library system. The new $12 million library, targeted for
LEED Silver Certification, houses community space on the first level with library functions above connected by a staircase. Nestled
into the site to maintain the scale of the mostly residential buildings around it, the building incorporates many sustainable features
including a vegetated roof, solar and daylight controls; and extensive use of recycled and renewable materials. At the building’s
opening ceremony, Chief Librarian Ginnie Cooper said, “New buildings only scratch the surface of the library’s transformation.
More people are making their way to the D.C. library for the improved book collections, the great author talks and workshops, and
the robust Internet connection. We are excited that people are becoming aware of the district’s top-notch library.” Additional
Libraries will also open this year in nearby Anacostia (April 26), Deanwood (summer), Georgetown (October) and Tenley
(December). The district is also moving forward with two new libraries designed by London-based architect David Adjaye.
Sharon McHugh, U.S. Correspondent
Watha Daniel/Shaw Neighborhood Library, Washington, DC - USA 2010
22.800 sqf, $ 12.000.000
In 2007, Davis Brody Bond Aedas was commissioned to design two new branch libraries, as part of the DC Public Library's initiative
to develop a first-class, state-of-the-art neighborhood library system. Each library is programmed for 20,000 square feet of space,
which, in addition to the traditional needs of a neighborhood library also includes public meeting space for the local community
which can be accessible independently from the library proper. The DCPL has a mandate to build sustainable facilities, and our
charge has been that these libraries should achieve Silver LEED Certification. The Watha T. Daniel / Shaw Neighborhood Library is
located along Rhode Island Avenue at 7th Street, on a triangular urban site near Howard University. A wide variety of functions
surround the site, including multi-family residential, commercial, educational and religious. The building marks this important
intersection as a civic place. The building will fill the site, and be composed of three floors: one below grade and two above. The
entry plaza at the east end of the site welcomes the public to the library. The main lobby provides access to the lower level which
houses community spaces including a multi-purpose room for up to 100 people, as well as access to the library proper. At this main
ground level are located the main service point and staff area for the library, as well as new materials and catalog stations for the
general collections, and the children's library. The upper level of the library will house the bulk of the adult collection, including
reference and periodical sections, and adult/young adult reading rooms. There will be online catalogs dispersed throughout the floor,
with access to the DCPL electronic resources available at all locations. Conference rooms and individual study rooms allow for
collaborative work in a non-disruptive setting. The library incorporates a number of sustainable features, including passive solar
design and daylight management, displacement air system and extensive use of recycled or renewable materials. (Davis)
Health Sciences Learning Center University of Wiesconsin, Madison, WI – USA 2004
The University of Wisconsin Health Sciences Learning Center is the second phase of a major consolidation of Health Sciences
learning and research activities at the western end of the Madison campus. The 350,000 square foot building serves the Schools of
Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy, and is also a resource to researchers, clinicians and patients in the adjacent Hospital and
Laboratory facilities. The major components of the Health Sciences Learning Center include: Health Sciences Library
• Alumni Auditorium (350 seats), • Lecture Halls and Distance Learning Classrooms, • Classroom, Seminar and Group Study
Facilities, • Computer Laboratories and Support, • Specialized Suites for Clinical Skills Education and Testing, • Administrative
Offices for the School of Medicine, • A Lounge, Cafe and Bookstore, • Underground Parking for 220 Cars, • Bike Parking for 250
A major goal of the building is to foster interdisciplinary exchange, team work, and a sense of community for students in the health
sciences. Student study space is organized as a series of clustered communities, including private study rooms, lockers, mailboxes
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