Local Library is a LEED Platinum Diamond in the Rough

The site of the library at the west corner of Silver Lake and Glendale Boulevards was previously occupied by a Chevron Station that was later repurposed as a site of local Halloween pumpkin and Christmas Tree sales. Five key goals were implemented into the overall design of the finished project:

1. is a building that meets all City of Los Angeles Library Department standards and is a visual asset for the community.
2. provides a healthy and productive indoor environment through the incorporation of daylight, views, low emitting materials, effective ventilation, system controllability, indoor chemical and pollutant source control, as well as a carbon dioxide monitoring.
3. is a building that is a good neighbor through light pollution prevention and heat island minimization.
4. is a building that minimizes water and sewer expenses through native and drought-tolerant plants, an efficient irrigation system, and a reduction in indoor water use.
5. is a building that uses materials that minimize their impact on the environment because they utilize recycled content, are rapidly renewable, and are locally manufactured.

Success in reaching the design goals led to a building whose operating expenses are at least 15 percent more efficient than required by California’s strict Title 24 standards, a design that managed to reduce construction and demolition waste by 75 percent compared to other buildings similar in size, and serves as a shining sustainable building educational experience for Silver Lake residents.

+ Silver Lake Public Library
+ M2A Architects

lead image © Tom Bonner