The 62,000 SF building sits on 2.2 acres in the heart of campus. Exterior glazing and a welcoming four-story atrium provide an unobstructed visual connection through the building. Spaces clustered around the atrium are branded for easy wayfinding. A café, library, learning resources, and variety of open and closed study spaces promote active student lifestyle and social participation. Open floor plans, large windows, and glazed skylights flood the atrium with natural daylight and put learning on display. Outside, an amphitheater, attractive landscaping, mobile furnishing, and Wi-Fi and power access create flexible outdoor spaces to support a wide range of student activities and active learning.

The design was guided by four key mantras: start with passive design, right size the mechanical system, incorporate healthy materials, and design for future Net Zero. The building’s orientation gives the project the advantage of ideal solar access, with the main façade of the building facing north and south. This condition is optimized by a tight building envelope composed of R21 walls, R30 roof, cool roof coating, low-e glazing, insulated cement plaster, and Taktl fiber-reinforced concrete panel rainscreen systems. The HVAC system is a supplement to the architectural passive systems and is right sized for the project’s typology and climatic profile. Recent upgrades to the central plant provide for a more efficient system for the campus, but also eliminate the need for additional systems at the library. A four-pipe system feeds off the plant and provides for an energy efficient and thermally comfortable environment year-round.  A portion of solar panels will potentially be allocated to the Library in order to offset the building’s energy use in its entirety. Low-VOC interior materials were specified to keep with the college’s branding palette and promote healthy indoor air quality. As occupants spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, every opportunity is taken to specify products, materials and finishes that meet Red List-Free criteria. With an EUI of 32, the project is prepositioned to become a net zero facility. 

Chabot Library is a high-performance library on multiple fronts. From an academic perspective, the library will foster the success of its students through a learning conducive environment, supported by ample daylight, optimal acoustics and thermally comfortable spaces. From a sustainable design perspective, the library exemplifies how an efficient, healthy and economically feasible building can be achieved through the implementation of sustainable design techniques.