GREENERBUILDER TOUR:
AUSTIN CENTRAL LIBRARY
BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE NEW HEART OF AUSTIN
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 2019
Austin Central Library
710 W. Cesar Chavez St.,
Austin, TX 78701
3:30 - 5:30 PM
About the Event
This tour will focus on the principles and communications in commissioning of the library with lessons for engineers, architects, contractors and facility professionals from both the Commissioning agent and the Building Manager - starting from preconstruction through handoff.
At the Austin Central Library, which opened in 2017, the books—500,000 in total—are just the beginning of the story. There’s also an art gallery, an event space, a rooftop butterfly garden, a series of group-study rooms, a café, and a “technology petting zoo,” which enables visitors to learn about next-generation gadgets.
The building itself—which centers around a six-story, sun-drenched atrium—is cutting-edge too. (It provides the most daylighting of any public library in the country!) In July 2018, it earned a Platinum LEED certification for its sustainable design, which includes the largest single-building solar array in downtown Austin (yielding a 43% net energy reduction), and a cistern on the roof that pipes rainwater to the bathrooms contributing to the 93% reduction of indoor potable water usage.
After more than a full year of data, the library has seen twice the number of projected visitors (more than a million to date) and is performing better than projected.
About the Presenters
Lee Butler has learned Facilities Operations from the ground up, working extensively in Building and Facilities Operations for diverse organizations such as Trammell Crow and Lakeway Resort. Prior to joining the Austin Public Library as Central Library’s Building Manager, Lee directed office operations for the Whole Foods Headquarters here in Austin.
Lee was honored to be chosen for this important role by Library Director John Gillum, and shares John’s passion for this highly awarded facility, called by Mayor Adler “The new heart of Austin”.
With the NV5 commissioning as their foundation, they are tracking “tons of data points” in ongoing building performance, and the Austin Central Library is being recognized in Texas, the U.S., and around the world for their stellar and singular LEED Platinum success.
NV5, the city's Commissioning Authority, let by Sr. Project Manager Alex Gonzales provided design and construction phase Commissioning Services in support of the achieving LEED Platinum Certification.
Alex has more than 29 years of experience in the AEC industry performing project/program planning, development, design/construction management and commissioning management in the public and private sector. He has provided professional services on a variety of large, small, and complex projects ranging. His project experience includes aviation, industrial, healthcare and educational facilities and has been involved in all aspects of program and project management.
Event Sponsor:
