The City of Santa Monica has announced that the Pico Branch Library has been certified Platinum, the highest rating achievable in the LEED Green Building Certification Program.
The library is the first City-owned building in Santa Monica to be awarded this distinction. LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices.
The library, located in Virginia Avenue Park at 2201 Pico Boulevard, opened its doors in summer 2014.
Designed by Koning Eizenberg Architecture of Santa Monica, the 8,690 square-foot branch library features a single-story, two-building design with ample sustainable strategies implemented throughout.
To qualify for the Platinum Certification the Pico Library had to score over 80 points spread out over five categories; Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources and Indoor Environmental Quality. The Pico Branch Library earned 89 points to achieve its distinguished Platinum LEED Certification.
Some of the specific features that led to the honor are:
Sustainable Sites
— Six electric vehicle charging stations
— 18 bicycle racks
— 62.5 percent of site is open space
Water Efficiency
— Low-flow fixtures and rainwater harvesting for toilet flushing saving an estimated 28,158 gallons yearly
— Drought tolerant and native landscaping with drip irrigation
Energy and Atmosphere
— Solar panels on the roof offset 14.42% of total energy costs
Materials and Resources
— 97.79 percent of construction debris was diverted from ever reaching a landfill
— Built with sustainable materials totaling 20.6 percent recycled content and 10.65 percent regional materials
Indoor Environmental Quality
— Temperature controls for individually occupied work stations
— Ample daylight views to the park outside for a healthier reading and learning environment
This Platinum Certification exemplifies the City of Santa Monica’s commitment to buildings that save money, resources and have a positive impact on the health of occupants, while promoting renewable, clean energy.
Santa Monica Public Library branch hours are noon-9 pm Monday through Thursday, noon to 5:30 pm on Friday, and 10 am to 5:30 pm on Saturday (closed Sunday). For more information, visit www.smpl.org/PicoBranch.aspx.
