Library Buildings around the World

space-saving alternative allows much-needed additional parking for the busy library and saved money as well. The most sustainable
building is one that can be reused. Because the community considered the existing building an eyesore, reusing it was not a popular
decision. But reusing the existing building was a sustainable choice. One of the key sustainable strategies entailed reinvesting in the
existing site and reusing 75% of the existing structure. The refreshed exterior and new native plantings and rain gardens for on-site
stormwater management have proven to be an attractive addition to the neighborhood. To transform the inward-looking existing
building and its dark interior, the new design focuses on incorporating daylight and views to the outside. Located in an established
first-ring suburb, the renovated building offers views that frame the mature tree canopy and screen the public’s view into adjacent
residential backyards. Clerestories also provide ample daylight. Other sustainable strategies included selecting regionally-produced
and recycled materials, as well as high efficiency systems to save water and energy. The building is LEED-NC 2.2 Gold certified.
The library is designed for maximum efficiency. The most popular services—computers, audio/visual materials, and the cafe—are
located on the main level in a central marketplace. Open sightlines and clear wayfinding allow patrons to easily find what they are
looking for. Within the bright, white interior, select application of color designates program areas to provide easy wayfinding for
children (magenta), teens (orange), and adults (green). These primary service areas are arranged compactly around the central
marketplace. Self-check stations are provided throughout the library. This approach to design for self service, combined with
technologies such as RFID tagging and automated materials handling, helps staff to focus on interaction with patrons and provide
excellent service with limited resources. (http://www.archdaily.com)
Hennepin County Maple Grove Library, Maple Grove, MN – USA 2008 – 2010
Bud Werner Memorial Library, Steamboat Springs, CO – USA 2008/2009
September 12, 2008 marked the grand opening of the newly expanded Bud Werner Memorial Library! The Library showed
committment to sustainable building design by earning a Silver LEEDs certificate. This effort will possibly make the Bud Werner
Memorial Library the first public library in Colorado to have achieved such a high level of certification. Echoing the intent of the
present library to serve as a memorial to local ski legend Buddy Werner, the main floor of the old library will be renovated into a
beautiful community meeting room while a 25,000 sq. ft. addition will be added to accommodate inviting public spaces and vibrant
collections. Renovations planned for completion in Winter of 2009. (http://www.steamboatlibrary.org)
Central Fargo Public Library, City of Fargo, ND – USA 2009
The new Fargo, ND central library will open to the public at the end of April. In advance of this opening, the local newspaper, The
Forum, asked for us to answer a few questions about the design of the building. Listed here are the responses to these questions as
prepared by Jeffrey Mandyck, the Project Architect. Please discuss the design: The Fargo Main Library is the result of community
process; a community seeking an enlarged, resource-rich library acting as an indoor town square taking full advantage of its location
on the civic edge of downtown Fargo a mere block from the Red River. The building presents itself to the city with a pair of brick
facades acting as book ends supporting daylight filled spaces: community meeting rooms, a gallery, reading/study areas, staff spaces
and book stacks. Daylight and views of the surrounding city and river guided the design. Large windows in the brick façade frame
views of the Red River. These articulated openings in the brick were derived from the building traditions of downtown Fargo and
the legacy of Carnegie Libraries. To fully engage the Red River vista a two-story glass bay, containing the Children’s Reading Area
and the Fireplace Room, protrudes through the east “bookend.” These light-filled rooms present the community activities to passersby
and are an integral part of the library’s identity. Within the building, daylight guides patrons through their experience of the
library; from the entry gallery looking upon the civic plaza, to the daylight-filled stair (with treads of granite salvaged from the old
Main Library) leading visitors to the voluminous second-floor, and to reading spaces along the windows. The broad length of
windows makes the interior spaces and the internal activities a visible part of library’s identity. What colors were chosen, and why?
The vibrancy and richness of North Dakota’s varied landscape were the inspiration for the library’s color palette; from the flora and
fauna of the springtime grasslands and agricultural fields to the warm autumn tones of autumn to the serenity of winter whites that
cover the Great Plains. I overheard the building went through a major change. Why was this? The previous design intended to
salvage the existing structure and portions of the exterior facade of the old main library while expanding the building’s footprint and
adding a second floor to it. The technical complexities of this approach were compounded by the poor soils of the site and ultimately
were more costly than the estimated construction cost. The revised design retained the plan layout and design concepts of the
previous design all within an entirely new structure and building envelope. This design came in under budget. How do you feel the
building and design turned out? We, as this is a team endeavor, are proud and elated to have worked with the citizens of Fargo and
the dedicated people of the Library to envision and to realize a building that will become an integral part of ones experience of the
City of Fargo. Personally, I feel joyful. Standing in the new library, I feel the openness, connectedness, warmth and delight that were
always part of our conversations and explorations of the library’s design. Other comments: There is a sustainable story embedded in
the library’s design. Selecting the old Main Library’s site was only the first step in reusing Fargo’s resources. Salvaged granite from
the existing building became the treads of the main stair. A bio-based material created from sunflower hulls was used for selected
pieces of the library’s casework. And designing and thinking locally, regional woods like ash and maple are used throughout the
library. Outside, native grasses and plants surround the library. Creating a transparent and open library creates its own unique
challenges for a building’s performance. The ample daylight in the building allows for daylight harvest, which reduces energy
consumption by automatically turn of the lights when photo-sensors read sufficient sunlight levels. The large expanse of glazing
utilizes high performing insulated glass. In addition, a computer controlled shading system tracks the sun’s movement and adjusts
the shades accordingly. These shades allow daylight into the library and views to the exterior, yet they block the majority of the sun’s
rays, which increase the building’s internal temperature during the summer and can cause glare on computer screens. During the off
hours of operation the shades can be programmed to be down and this increases the insulating properties of the building envelope.
As a result of this, the energy loss through the glazing is decreased and the amount of heat or cooling the building needs to do is
decreased as well. Moreover, the heating and cooling system were designed to perform above current energy standards. (Meyer)
(MSR)
Hennepin County Southdale Library, Edina, MN – USA 2009
Renovation: 65.000 sqf., Expansion: 15.000 sqf.
St. Cloud Public Library, St. Cloud, MN – USA 2008
Awards:
IIDA Northland FAB Award
The Saint Cloud Public Library received an IIDA Northland Chapter FAB award for its welcoming, transparent spaces that people
love to use. The FAB Awards, which gets its name from the acronym for “Fresh, Artistic and Brilliant,” are presented by the
Northland Chapter of the International Interior Design Assocation. The Saint Cloud Public Library won in the government/
institutional category. Jurors were impressed with the amount of daylight flooding the library’s two large floors and how the design
firm, MS&R, seamlessly integrated architecture and interiors. They specifically noted how the library was about people actively
using, not merely visiting, the space. Since opening in September, the library has seen its patronage increase by 65%, and library
card renewals and registration numbers are up over 200%. According to deputy library director, Verne Oleksowicz, the most
popular spaces are the community meeting rooms, children and teen areas, and the many reading spaces aligning the library’s
expansive windows. ( http://msrlibraryworld.wordpress.com ) (MSR)
Rancho Mirage Public Library, Rancho Mirage, CA – USA 2005
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