Joint-Use Library in Virginia Beach earns LEED Gold Certification

The Tidewater Community College and City of Virginia Beach Joint-Use Library has received LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

The 120,000-square-foot Joint-Use Library opened on TCC’s Virginia Beach Campus on Aug. 17. The building, initially anticipated to earn LEED Silver certification, exceeded expectations by increasing the quantity of recycled and regional material used for the project – a concerted effort led by the Gilbane Building Company.

LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a set of rating systems for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of green buildings, homes and neighborhoods. It certifies that a structure is environmentally sound and uses resources efficiently.

Components inside the library include motorized window shades, floor openings designed to enhance the use of natural light, advanced stormwater management techniques using bio-retention ponds and large open spaces, and glass walls to provide views for more than 90 percent of interior spaces.

Located at the corner of Rosemont Road and Faculty Boulevard, the Joint-Use Library houses more than 128,000 items and includes about 360 computers, a dynamic children’s room, a café, study rooms and collaborative work spaces