Cleveland Public Library's Rice Branch Earns Silver L.E.E.D Certification
New Building Offers Numerous Green Benefits to Become First Freestanding L.E.E.D. Library in Ohio
CLEVELAND (August 30, 2010) – After months of extensive review and a lengthy application process, Cleveland Public Library’s new Rice Branch has achieved silver LEED certification, making it the first freestanding library in Ohio to earn this prestigious designation. The announcement was made by Felton Thomas, Jr., director of Cleveland Public Library.
LEED certification is the recognized standard for measuring building sustainability here in the U.S., as well as in a number of other countries around the world. The LEED green building rating system, which was developed and administered by the U.S. Green Building Council in Washington D.C., is designed to promote design and construction practices that reduce the negative environmental impacts of buildings and improve occupant health and well-being. Although the Rice Branch officially opened in January, LEED certification was not confirmed until late July.
“We are very pleased to have earned this distinction,” said Thomas. “Cleveland Public Library has always prided itself on being a good environmental steward. In recent years, we have implemented a number of programs designed to reduce the amount of waste generated and energy consumed by our branches. But the construction of the new Rice Branch offered us the first real opportunity to showcase the latest green building technologies.”
The LEED rating system offers four certification levels for new construction—Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum—that correspond to the number of credits accrued in five green design categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. According to Richard Ortmeyer, a principal at Bostwick Design Partnership, the architect chosen to design the new Rice Branch, silver was the highest level attainable for the Rice Branch given the specifics of its budget and location.
“Since we were creating a new building, we did not qualify for extra credit for use of an existing building,” said Ortmeyer. “In addition, since the Library shares a site with the Harvey Rice School, it did not have control over the site design.”
Bostwick was chosen for the project specifically as a result of its extensive experience with public libraries and other educational facilities. “Working with Cleveland Public Library was an especially rewarding experience,” said Ortmeyer. “The administration was engaged and enthusiastic throughout the process. Everyone we worked with was more than willing to roll up their sleeves and get deeply involved in the project. The team had a solid understanding of the value of good design, and they recognized that you can’t intimidate people who are struggling with literacy. Since the branch is part of the revitalization efforts affecting the entire Buckeye Neighborhood, there was a real need for the building to literally reach out to the neighborhood.”
Visitors at the Library will immediately notice the open design. “The Administration of the Library wanted to create a type of living room atmosphere for the community,” said Ortmeyer. “The use of brick and wood creates a cozy, inviting atmosphere, and with all the windows, it is easy for the neighborhood to actually look in.”
A key sustainable attribute of the Rice Branch is its raised floor. The modular flooring system sits 24” above a separate floor below to allow for the installation of the air conditioning, heating and electrical units. This allows for a more efficient air flow than most AC systems which deliver air from above and must force it downward. As a result, the Rice Branch uses a lot less energy to control the temperature of the interior than had a traditional overhead heating and cooling system been installed.
In addition, the installation of floor-to-ceiling windows maximizes the use of natural light. According to Ortmeyer, natural light has not only been proven to enhance people’s ability to learn, but it also further reduces the need for electricity. A sophisticated daylight harvesting system that allows the overhead lights to automatically dim and brighten based on daylight sensors further minimizes the use of electricity. As a result of enhancements such as these, the branch uses 21.4 percent less energy than a typical building.
Other special features further contributed to the LEED certification. A light-colored roof minimizes heat gain during the summer months. Native landscaping was chosen to eliminate the need for an irrigation system. Low-flow and other sustainable fixtures were chosen to use 40 percent less water than traditional products. More than 95 percent of the construction waste was recycled and diverted from landfills. All building materials selected either met or exceeded established standards for indoor air quality. The overall building design allows daylight and views for 90 percent of the spaces. A final green consideration is that the branch is located in the heart of the neighborhood, allowing for easy access on foot, as well as by public transportation.
Although sustainability was a key objective in the overall design, other factors also needed to be considered by the architects. The site was designed collaboratively with the newly built Harvey Rice School in conjunction with Parkworks and Cleveland Public Art. According to Ortmeyer, it was important to incorporate landscaping themes that created a park-like atmosphere. In an effort to build upon the Native American, Hungarian and African-American history of the site, an eye-catching mosaic was added by artist Martha Jackson Jarvis near the entrance to create a contemporary design that incorporated all three cultures. The large masonry end walls of the library are connected to a sloped roof to reference the historic Saint Luke’s Hospital that was once on the site. And The Learning Center, which provides dedicated space inside the branch for after-school tutoring and GED classes, is framed by walls that coordinate with the walls of Harvey Rice School.
“The new Rice Branch is one of the most worthwhile projects completed during my time as board president,” said Alice Butts, past-president, board of trustees for Cleveland Public Library. “The process of working with the Buckeye Neighborhood, its community groups and the architects to make this vision a reality was extremely rewarding, and I am so pleased that the end result is a sustainable structure that serves as a valuable community resource.”