New West Hollywood Library Awarded Gold LEED Certification

The City of West Hollywood was recently notified that the new West Hollywood Library has been awarded a Gold LEED Certification, surpassing its planned energy and environmental sustainability goals.

The LEED rating system was designed by the U.S. Green Building Council, which encourages and facilitates the development of sustainable buildings. A Gold LEED Certification is one of the highest attainable ratings and only a handful of municipal buildings in California have achieved this standard.

"This Gold-LEED certification is an acknowledgement of the values embraced by each and everyone in the West Hollywood community," said Mayor John J. Duran. "This City Council and the city’s residents have made it a priority to support sustainable development initiatives that reduce our carbon footprint and that are supportive of the environment, protecting it for future generations."

LEED is an internationally recognized mark of excellence that provides building owners and operators with a framework of identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.

LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building was designed and built using strategies aimed at achieving high performance in areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

The 32,000-square foot new West Hollywood Library has become a centerpiece of the community since its opening on October 1, 2011. During its construction, the library project made as minimal an environmental impact as possible.

Among the many sustainable features of the library are a photovoltaic system (solar power technology that uses solar cells to convert energy from the sun into electricity); use of low-emitting materials for paints, coating and carpeting; optimized-energy performance systems for lighting, heating and ventilation; sustainable vegetation; and the use of Green housekeeping products.

Architecturally, the library consistently envelops smart use of space and land. For example, tennis courts sit atop one of the parking areas — their nets and seating can be removed so that the area can double for event space that is graced with spectacular views of West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Los Angeles.

The drop-off auto court also can be closed off and used as event space. A large part of the library interior is free of support columns, with a flexible floor plan. A park with trees and drought-tolerant, sustainable vegetation sits atop a second parking area, an example of another wise use of space.

As the new West Hollywood Library was being built, 96 percent of its construction waste was diverted from landfills, allowing for recycled use of the diverted materials. More than 25 percent of all construction materials were sourced locally, lowering the carbon footprint of the project. The majority of wood used for the project is from renewable, managed forests.

For more information about the City’s LEED certification, please contact Jeff Huffer, Economic Development Manager, at 323-848-6846.

—City of West Hollywood announcement.