Downtown Library Gets "Green" Award

The new downtown library has reached a gold standard.

The $40 million library adjacent to Civic Park has been awarded a LEED gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design awards are a point-based system by which building projects earn points for satisfying specific green building requirements relating to energy use, lighting, water and material use and other sustainable practices.

The 42,000-square-foot library was cited for an Energy Star-rated roof, storm water management, daylight harvesting control, use of recycled and regionally manufactured materials, water efficient landscaping and plumbing, and a raised flooring system to provide efficient heating and cooling.

The library, which opened July 17, 2010, is the first building in incorporated Walnut Creek to earn a LEED gold award for new construction.

To date, an estimated 43 buildings throughout the Bay Area have achieved the LEED gold award for new construction. Among them is Station Landing, a six-story building in unincorporated Walnut Creek.