As a book is activated by light falling on its pages, this new library is activated by natural daylight for all its public areas. During community design charrettes, a concept emerged for a library that was “classical yet modern.” VPS responded with a design that is an artifact from the future.

This new library demonstrates the benefits of high performance design, including lower first costs, lower operating costs, greater comfort and delight, greater flexibility and a lightened impact on the environment. A raised floor plenum provides efficient comfort and maximum flexibility in technology routing. Autoclaved aerated concrete, a space-age version of concrete that has superior insulation, fire resistance and acoustic properties is used on the exterior walls.

VPS helped the library obtain a grant for a photovoltaic solar system that absorbs and converts sunlight into electric energy, which is sent back to the utility grid. The utility company provides a credit on the library’s electric bill. This is the first LEED-registered library in Indiana.