Central Library LEED® Gold Designation

Calgary’s spectacular Central Library is celebrating its two-year anniversary in East Village. And we now have another reason to celebrate the iconic building: a prestigious LEED® Gold certification for its green building features.

Already well regarded for its architectural design and programming, the LEED® Gold certification is another well-deserved feather in Central Library’s cap.

LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the global standard for green building certification, recognizing high standards in areas such as electricity use, carbon emissions and indoor air quality.

Among its LEED® Gold-worthy features, Central Library was built with sustainably harvested red cedar from B.C.; it uses low-flow water fixtures—reducing water use by 30% versus conventional fixtures; its state-of-the-art air ventilation and filtration systems meet the highest standards for indoor air quality; and its water use is further reduced by using storm water to irrigate its landscaping. Altogether, Central Library’s energy efficiency measures contribute to a more than 25% cost savings.

Notably, the building’s top-notch indoor air quality system factored significantly into the decision to reopen Central Library to the public after a months-long COVID shut-down—giving Calgarians a safe and enriching opportunity to connect once again with the library’s offerings and with the broader community.

Rather than in-person celebrations to mark its anniversary, Central Library will be feted over a week of digital events, including guest interviews, project retrospectives and prize giveaways.

To learn more about Central Library’s green features and its LEED® certification, visit calgarylibrary.ca.