a novel idea

rosemary garfoot library

The design goals for the Rosemary Garfoot Library rested on two pillars. The first is a commitment to efficient use of energy. The second is community involvement, both in planning and end-use. The culmination of design charrettes, focus groups and town meetings is an expansive single story, open layout building with intimate reading rooms for all ages, study areas, and spaces for the community to come together.

Facts + Figures

project size

15,150 SF

completion

2006

project type

New Construction

location

Cross Plains, WI

Project Highlights

Wisconsin’s first “green” library, designed to LEED Silver

Use of an advanced HVAC system to reuse conditioned air, and light and CO2 sensors

River Architects of La Crosse was the Library Specialist Partner for this project

This project was an exploration of how a library can meet and serve the needs of its users that goes way beyond bookshelves and computers.

The Cross Plains community was involved from the very beginning in understanding how the library should function. Those discussions provided clarity for the library’s design. The library needed to serve as a center for education and a meeting point for the community. The buildings and its systems needed to be environmentally-friendly and the lush forested land of the area had to be reflected.

The library manifests its ecological focus with large windows on both south and north facing walls for maximum daylighting, soothing exterior views from nearly every section of the building, along with heat collection in the winter and solar shielding in the summer. Finishes are mostly regionally sourced and have

low-VOC content. The building’s highly-efficient HVAC system recovers and reuses conditioned air and sensors control both light and CO2 levels.

The 1500 SF town meeting room and a double height stack area add size, usage, and freeing movement to the library, while a central circulation desk anchors the space and ensures smooth daily operation. The Rosemary Garfoot Library is not only functional and a collection of engaging, educational and useful spaces for its community but also an aesthetic marvel and representation of the forested, ecological wonders of the Cross Plains area.