Desert Library is Designed to Battle Heat

by Paul Deffenbaugh | July 3, 2023 12:00 am

Such a result has garnered the Sahuarita Library, Sahuarita, Ariz., the Metal Architecture Design Award in the Sustainable category. Judge Tima Bell, Assoc. AIA, founding principal, Relativity Architects, Los Angeles, said, “The library just looks like such a great space to be in, and it almost brings me back to my architecture school days when we were fascinated with Nicholas Grimshaw’s approach of connections and details and the structure being the aesthetic. I think they did that really well.”

Extreme Climate

The library’s design concept was deeply rooted in the idea of connectivity and integration. Line and Space Architects, Tucson, Ariz., strategically positioned the building to allow natural light to flood the interior. This not only creates a welcoming and inviting atmosphere for visitors, but also reduces the building’s energy consumption by maximizing daylighting.

“The design of the library was influenced by the program, and response to climate and site forces,” says Jared Logue, AIA, principal, project architect at Line and Space. “A comprehensive site analysis was performed to identify and gain an understanding of the desert climate and forces that could influence the design of the new library. It was designed with a strong understanding of the facility’s environmental performance needs and the passive interventions required to create a sustainable and comfortable building within the extreme Sonoran Desert climate. Simple strategies such as proper orientation, shading glazing with large roof overhangs, and daylighting help minimize the use of active systems.”

As positive views from the site are lacking, the facility focuses on the adjacent landscape through a continuous low-ribbon window that surrounds the library’s collection areas. Low water-use cacti and desert-adapted plants grow close to the window, while earth berms and bioswales surround the building. “We implemented the earth berms and bioswales to collect and slow the flow of stormwater from the development of the site, roof and hardscape,” says Johnny Birkinbine, AIA, principal, architect at Line and Space. The berms provide a visual and auditory buffer from the traffic, and the stormwater irrigates the native vegetation.

Perforated Steel Shards

The library pays homage to the local community via two perforated steel shards supplied by Tucson-based J.B. Steel, which reflect the community’s history of mining.

“Line and Space was inspired by the dynamic nature of the raw minerals and abstracted this concept to create two monumental forms that appear to grow from the library’s south façade,” says Birkinbine. “From inside the library, the form of the shards penetrates the collection space and glass curtainwalls [from Arcadia Inc., Vernon, Calif.] allow daylight to filter in through the perforated metal panels. Within the shards are patios tempered by large, low-velocity fans, providing a quiet and comfortable space for users to enjoy reading outside throughout the year.”

Fenestration limited to the ribbon window helps mitigate heat gain into the building, and large overhangs and perforated steel shade panels at the shards protect the floor-to-ceiling glass used at the entry and outdoor reading areas. “Relief air from the building is recycled to the patio,” says Logue, “making it comfortable and usable during the hot summer months. By using highly resilient and low-impact materials, such as metal, the library is low maintenance and will stand the test of time.”

Planning with Metal

It was important that library staff have full visual access to the resources. “By designing a flexible open floor plan and utilizing lower height book stacks and translucent metal fabric screens [from GKD Metal Fabrics, Cambridge, Md.], we created a concept that allows staff to have visual control without library patrons feeling overly monitored,” explains Henry Tom, FAIA, principal-in-charge, lead design architect at Line and Space.

The collection area of the library is clad with 24-gauge metal wall panels from Taylor Metal Products, Salem, Ore. Fabricated to match the height of the wall, metal’s formability eliminated the need for joints and seams contributing toward a well-sealed energy-efficient envelope. At some window openings, the metal panels transition seamlessly into the building, becoming an interior finish to help blur the distinction between interior and exterior space.

Source URL: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/articles/desert-library-is-designed-to-battle-heat/

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