Kensington Branch Library, Brooklyn NY
Architect: Sen Architects
The New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) design goal for
the Kensington Branch is that it be a "state-of-the-art" facility that
maximizes thermal and visual comfort, convenience, and the well-being of staff
and library goers while functioning in part as an environmental educational
center. As such its construction materials and mechanical systems should promote
good air quality indoors and outdoors through reduced or eliminated emissions.
DDC also requested that environmentally preferable materials be selected that
have recycled content and are themselves recyclable.
William Bobenhausen, FAIA, directed all environmental design aspects of the project. Services began even prior to the selection of a project architect with the establishment of energy and environmental performance goals for the project. Energy performance goals include: Energy consumption (measured in BTUs per square foot per year) a minimum of 30% lower than for a building designed to conventional current practice.
Annual operating cost to be a minimum of 40% lower than for a building designed to conventional current practice.
The major theme of the building is to utilize natural light. A reduction of lighting energy use by 50% is projected through a combination of switching, circuiting and automatic controls.
Sen Architects is the designer with A.G. Consulting Engineering serving as the project engineer. A standing column type geothermal heat pump system will satisfy the relatively small heating and cooling loads of the building.
Engineering assistance was provided by Steven Winter Associates through NYSERDA's FlexTech Program.