In the past ten years, Maple Grove has grown to become one of Minnesota’s largest suburbs. The area has evolved from a natural oak savanna and agricultural fields to gravel mines serving the state highway system. This ever-changing landscape of human development resulted in barren land and artificial lakes (leftover from mining activity) as the future site for the library.
Responding to the community’s desire for a gathering space, and seizing the potential of the site, the new Maple Grove Library is designed as a pavilion in a park, connecting residents to information, the outdoors, and the larger community. A seamless building and landscape design fully integrates the library and park, while a lake provides renewable, hydrothermal energy for the building.
The design team’s goal was to create a community living space, shaped by knowledge and technology. The design integrates outdoor views and spaces, such as a reading porch, which creates a strong inside-outside relationship and extends the experience beyond the walls of the library.
Energy conservation was a driving force in the design. The building was shaped to maximize daylight. An estimated 22.8% energy savings comes from daylight harvesting and another 24% from renewable energy sources. Designed to exceed the Minnesota energy code by more than 40%, the library provides an annual energy savings of more than 1,329,100 kWh. The building was designed in accordance with the Buildings, Benchmarks,and Beyond: State of Minnesota Sustainable Building Guidelines.
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