New Standard for Green Design by Surry Hills Library

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Designed by Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (FJMT), the Surry Hills Library and Community Centre sets a new standard of excellence for sustainable design. With automatic sun tracking louvers, a rooftop photovoltaic system, a green roof, healthy indoor air quality, and an innovative air handling system, the center and FJMT are highly deserving recipients of this year’s national sustainable design award.

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The innovative four story, almost 2,500 square-meter library and community center includes meeting rooms, a commercial teaching kitchen, and a childcare center with an outdoor landscaped play space. The center is bordered on three sides by busy city streets, so healthy indoor air quality was a priority for the building. This is achieved with the help of a number of energy efficient strategies.

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The glass atrium on one side of the building helps passively heat and cool the center by serving as a buffer to the outside. Natural daylight filters in through the plant filled space and automatic shades roll down when the sun is too intense.

One side of the building features an automatic louvered system that tracks the sun to minimize glare and intense light in the library space. The rooftop features a photovoltaic system that generates enough power for the lighting and systems in the building, while the rest of the space is covered in natural grasses that form a green roof.

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The center was completed in 2009 and has also received recognition by the UDIA Excellence in Sustainable Design award and the Australian Timber Design Awards Public Building high commendation. The Centre has been designed to achieve excellence in sustainable design and set new high standards in environmental performance for multi purpose public buildings.

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It will be a starting point for the development of a green rating system for public buildings and an innovative example of design and sustainable design possibilities.

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source: inhabitat, fjmt, architecture

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