NEW LIBRARY DESIGN EMPHASIZES SUSTAINABILITY, ENERGY CONSERVATION AND RENEWABLE RESOURCES
Mark Herter, AIA, LEED AP BD+C Associate Principal | Centerbrook Architects
Here’s some Big Picture thinking: we are committed to building a high performance, state-of-the-art Library that will not only be the center of community learning and collaboration for generations to come, but one which will be a new model of thoughtful environmental stewardship.
Centerbrook Architects incorporated a comprehensive range of energy efficiency strategies and sustainability measures into the building project right from the start. Their award-winning firm is known worldwide for integrating sustainability throughout their design process, using digital models to evaluate strategies to reduce energy and carbon, as well as their emphasis on ways to maximize natural light and increase the use of renewable and healthy materials.
"New Canaan Library wants to become a regional leader in sustainable architecture and environmental responsibility. We feel privileged to be able to help them achieve their goals through this groundbreaking project," said Mark Herter of Centerbrook Architects.
“The Library challenged us to design a high performance, energy efficient building with a low carbon footprint. The building employs passive strategies to optimize daylight and reduce solar heat gain”, Herter said. “Building products include locally sourced materials, like stone for exterior cladding and site walls, and renewable products with high recycled content”, he added.
A key guiding principle of the plan has been to deliver a 100-year building whose environmental, economic and social sustainability will demonstrate that beautiful design and a responsible approach to sustainable architecture are harmoniously intertwined.
The new building will feature natural light-filled seating areas designed with biophilic principles in mind that will encourage reading, learning and contemplation in a transparent and nature-filled community space. Biophilic design focuses on those aspects of the natural world that have contributed to human health and productivity. In other words, sunlight, plants, trees, use of organic materials like wood and stone, and the incorporation of inspiring vistas - as our very own Library Green, Rooftop Terrace and Children’s Garden will provide - all contribute to an enhanced connectivity to the natural environment.
In the new Library, sophisticated energy and daylight modeling will optimize natural light, limit glare, and reduce demands on heating and cooling systems, thereby reducing system sizes and cost. The creation of the Library Green is a central element of this approach, providing an integrated, restorative feature visible from the inside and a core element of the outdoor programming and community based activities the Library will advance and support.
The project features many high sustainable strategies in its design including:
Optimized energy performance
High performance glazing to reduce cooling demand
Passive solar design strategies
Optimized/Natural ventilation system
Daylight optimization
High efficiency equipment/appliances/HVAC
Biophilic design
Sustainable/recycled building materials
Reduction of water use
Heat island reduction: materials and green roof
You can learn much more about Centerbrook’s groundbreaking approach to sustainable design at their website:
www.Centerbrook.com/sustainable_design
And watch out for Mark’s interview next month in Bedford & New Canaan Magazine that explores our sustainability approach in more depth.
And now you know: our plan is to create a new facility that meets the community’s expectations for sustainability through the design of a beautiful, functional, energy-efficient, environmentally-sound structure, surrounded by a beautifully designed Library Green that will serve the community for generations to come.