Schweitzer library earns LEED designation

Photo provided by Dake Wells Architecture Inc.

The U.S. Green Building Council recognizes the Schweitzer Brentwood Branch Library for its environmentally friendly features.

The U.S. Green Building Council awarded a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-Silver designation to Springfield’s Schweitzer Brentwood Branch Library.

The Springfield-Greene County Library District’s branch is now among more than 92,200 commercial and institutional projects participating in LEED in all 50 states and more than 167 countries and territories. Less than two years ago, the library underwent $2.6 million in renovations and expansions, according to a news release from Dake Wells Architecture Inc., the designer of the project.

The USGBC noted Schweitzer Brentwood Branch Library’s expansion and renovation project:
    •    increased natural light flowing through the building;
    •    insulated the roof to increase its thermal performance;
    •    removed tile ceilings to expose the building’s original steel trusses and improve its visual quality;
    •    added overhangs, glass, shading and a mechanical system to manage heating and cooling; and
    •    installed bio-retention swales and basins with native vegetation to reduce flooding.

Originally built in the 1970s, the 2214 S. Brentwood Blvd. library’s expansion added 1,500 square feet of space, 10 parking spots, a drive-up book drop and a drive-thru service window, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.