Address: 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55401

Overview:

The Hennepin County Library – Central is a vital civic landmark and cultural center. The highly sustainable design, which arose from a collaborative, public process, creates a grand urban library for new generations.

The Library’s design includes many sustainable elements. The roof is planted with drought-resistant ground cover to slow storm water runoff and reduce heat absorption, and rainwater is harvested and stored in cisterns for landscape irrigation. An under-floor ventilation system optimizes indoor air quality and reduces cooling costs, and the use of daylight and energy-efficient light fixtures helps the building exceed Minnesota’s energy code requirements. In addition, materials with high recycled content and low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were specified, and demolition and construction waste from the old and new libraries was recycled.

Benefits:

• 18,500 square-foot “green” roof planted with low-growing, sun- and drought-resistant ground cover.
• Rainwater harvesting for landscape irrigation.
• Ninety-six percent of the old Central Library building was recycled. Construction waste for the new library building was also recycled.
• Energy efficiency heating/cooling and other systems reduce CO2 emissions and lower expenses of operating the building.
• Exterior glazing design minimizes solar heat gain on the east, south, and west sides of the building.
• The building contains materials with high recycled content, low VOC content and low life-cycle costs. Many building materials were produced close to Minneapolis, minimizing energy consumption associated with material deliveries during construction.
• The library caters to “green” transportation, incorporating a bus stop directly in front of the building and providing plenty of indoor and outdoor bicycle parking.