Library Buildings around the World

architecture. The existing building’s southwest corner is showcased as an interior element within the two-story addition, celebrating
the combination of old and new.
To reduce solar heat gain, windows on the south-facing facade to the rear were replaced with high-performance glazing, while
historic windows on the other three sides were restored and cleaned. Solar panels provide about 25 percent of the building’s power.
A new high-efficiency mechanical system ties into the existing radiant system. Other resource-saving elements include specification
of energy-efficient lighting and low-flow plumbing fixtures, restoration of original furniture, and new linoleum flooring.
Previously, the main level reading room was lit with harsh fluorescents. New pendants provide ambient lighting, while a new metal
valance along the perimeter conceals a strip fluorescent that washes the walls with light. Daylight sensors dim these fixtures
depending on the amount of natural light available. New lighting also brightens the formerly dark basement program room, which
was leveled to eliminate a flight of stairs that broke up the space. The renovation of the basement also added a sink and ADAaccessible
bathrooms while increasing the amount of storage space.
Staff support areas at the back of the building were reorganized to make them more functional. Adding a staircase at the new entry
allowed for the removal of an existing stair to make more room for the support areas and provide an office for the branch manager.
The project also involved seismic strengthening and creation of a new designated teen area separate from the main reading room.
Read more at (http://plusmood.com/2012/12/golden-gate-valley-branch-library-tom-eliot-fisch-paulett-taggartarchitects/#hfd0UJGP67pCUwBd.99)
PBK Architects, Houston, TX – USA
http://www.pbk.com
Libraries:
Collin College Campus Central Park Library, McKinney, TX – USA 2009
65.000 sqf., Cost per sqf. $223.89
In June 2009, Collin College opened the Central Park Library in McKinney, Texas. The design successfully combines timeless
classical architecture with 21st-century innovation, creating a true learning-centered environment. The library presents itself as a
showcase of Jeffersonian architecture; a grand entry leads to a rotunda bathed Libraries/Media Centerssunlight, with arched
windows, tall columns, marble parquet flooring and a stone staircase that leads to the second-floor gallery. The challenge to create
an accommodating atmosphere of open communication for students and professors was met by designing a learning community
within a teaching library. The flexible plan has lecture rooms, laboratories and faculty offices on the second floor encircling a grand
reading room below. Students have a variety of research settings: group and private study areas, interspersed lounge seating or in
the library’s cafe—all of which contain the latest computer technology. The interior finishes include wood paneling, stainless steel,
marble and an expansive wall of windows framing cottonwood trees. Completed in 28 months and while classes were in session, the
library incorporates a centralized chilled-water system, automated building controls, energy-efficient lighting and HVAC equipment
throughout. The result is a modern architectural environment that serves as a catalyst for student achievement.
(http://schooldesigns.com)
Pease Associates, Charlotte, NC – USA
http://www.pease-ae.com
Libraries:
Carol Grotnes Belk Library and Information Commons, Appalachian State University, Elon, NC – USA
2005
-The Carol G. Belk Library is a technology-rich "information center” nationally recognized for its green building design. Pease
designed the library in association with Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott. The 231,000 SF library incorporates state-of-theart
computer and telecommunications technology, offering a full range of traditional and electronic information resources. Lounge
seating, cyber café, 24-hour study facility, numerous group study rooms, electronic classrooms and a multimedia authoring center
create a warm, inviting environment that offers a wealth of resources to the university and community. An environmentallycontrolled
Special Collections Reading Room houses the renowned W.L. Eury Appalachian Collection and other rare books and
materials. A cold storage room preserves photos and film. Sustainable design features include an energy-efficient HVAC system
comprised of multiple built-up air handlers with VFD fan operation; direct digital temperature, humidity, building pressure and
carbon dioxide/IAQ controls; OA energy recovery units; variable speed centrifugal chiller; cooling tower and waterside economizer.
An 115,060 GSF parking deck serves the Belk Library. The 5-level, 300-car deck is a post-tensioned, poured-in-place concrete
structure with a foundation on caissons. (Pease)
BOONE – Carol Grotnes Belk Library and Information Commons at Appalachian State University has been recognized for its green
architectural design by two leading library magazines. The April 2008 issue of American Libraries included Belk Library among 27
facilities spotlighted in its “2008 Library Design Showcase.” The magazine featured libraries that “demonstrate a commitment to
making a beautiful space that serves both the community and the planet.” American Libraries is the magazine of the American
Library Association. Belk Library was also included in the December 2007 issue of Library Journal, which highlighted 21 academic
buildings and 168 public library projects in an article titled “Going, Going Green.” Library Journal described Belk Library as “a
21st-century facility that combines the best of technology with the expertise to retrieve and validate its information. The central
atrium is the focal point of the new four-story structure, built with environmental sensibility and sustainability in mind.”
The green features of Belk Library include an emphasis on natural lighting as well as advanced mechanical equipment for energy
savings, cork flooring, energy-efficient elevator system, electronic sensor faucets and toilets, computer-controlled shades and
recycled/recyclable carpeting. “We are proud of this national recognition of Appalachian’s bright and spacious Carol Grotnes Belk
Library and Information Commons, and we are thrilled that students are using the facility’s great study spaces, technology and
information resources in greater and greater numbers each year,” said University Librarian Mary Reichel. “Library personnel were
proud to work with the university’s Office of Design and Construction, which led the way in making the new library as
environmentally sound as possible. We know students appreciate this guardianship of the environment as well,” she said. Belk
Library and Information Commons opened in summer 2005. It has 221,000 square feet, making it about 50 percent larger than the
1960s structure it replaced. The $37.5 million building was designed by Pease Associates Inc. and Shepley Bulfinch Richardson &
Abbott. The library’s construction was funded through the 2000 bond referendum in which North Carolina voters approved $3.1
billion for capital construction and renovation on UNC campuses and at the state’s community colleges.
For more information, visit http://www.library.appstate.edu/. ( http://www.appstae.edu)
144