The Cruzen-Murray library is a light-filled, inviting environment with ample opportunities for exterior views. The sustainable building approach used both passive and active measures to reduce the library’s energy consumption. A geothermal heat pump system reduces operating costs and extend mechanical system life, and reduces the system life-cycle cost.The performance-based compliance methodology has determined that the building exceeds energy efficiency code requirements by producing up to 67.7% cost savings.
The exterior skin is an insulated glass curtain wall,which is shaded by a series of perforated metal shade fins arranged to accept natural light into the interior spaces at the appropriate times of the year and throughout each day. The shade fins spiral around the elliptical shape, rising at the entry to invite visitors to the interior space.
The main entrance at the Ground level is located on the west side of the building, which also features a terraced landscaped plaza providing access to the 24/7 technology lablocated at the library’s lower Plaza Level. The main entry leads to a curving, sculptural stair taking visitors to the main reading room on the secondlevel overlooking the dynamic two-story entry space. A convex cedar board ceiling over the entire second level provides a warm, acoustically pleasant environment. In the evening, the building acts as a softly glowing lantern on campus, lit from within via the richly expressed ceiling.
The interior is arranged with public/social spaces on the west-facingthe existing campus and quadrangle, and quiet study and individual spaces primarily placed on the east. The book stacks are arrayed along the eastern edge of the building on the ground and second levels. A central “core” houses classroom and office spaces and serves as a hub for vertical circulation at the library’s center. Flexibility for future technology and pedagogical needs is promoted by an open, flexible floor plan and the use of access flooring forthe distribution of ventilation and utility resources.
Material Used:
1. Façade Fins – Hunter Douglas (Custom Perforated Strip Screen)
2. Glass – Carey Glass (Oversize Exterior I.G.)
3. Window Systems – Wausau Superwall (Exterior) Kawneer and Western Integrated (Interior)
4. Ceiling System – Armstrong (Ultima ACT) Hunter Douglas (Techstyle) USG(T&G Western Red Cedar over USG Custom Curve T-Grid)
5. Carpet – Shaw Contract Carpet Tile (Kasuri/Bias)
6. Lighting – Vode/Bartco/Finelite/Metalux/Scott Architectural Lighting
