West Town Branch Library

IDEA was commissioned to design a new branch library in the former Goldblatt’s Department Store building, a designated Chicago Landmark. An adaptation of the Chicago Public Library’s prototype standards, the new 16,000 sf branch is located on the first floor, and the design incorporates existing historic features such as marble floor tiles, plaster column capitals and decorative ceiling panels from the original department store. Adult, juvenile and teen collections, compact shelving and ample public computer access are included, greatly improving community access to library programs. The completed project received LEED Gold certification for Commercial Interiors.

Sustainability

The West Town Branch scored credits sufficient to be certified as Gold for the LEED for Commercial Interiors program including credits for: Development Density and Community Connectivity, Alternative Transportation and Parking, Water Use Reduction, Optimized Energy Performance for Lighting, Controls, Energy Performance and Enhanced Commissioning, as well as Recycled Content and Low-emitting Interior Finishes and Materials.

Awards & Recommendations

  • Gold certification, LEED for Commercial Interiors, U.S. Green Building Council