Arabian Library

Arabian Library

The Arabian Library in Scottsdale is a premier example of the modern library. The architectural design was meant to reflect the natural wonders of Antelope Canyon. A dynamic challenge in modern design is finding a balance between architectural intent and environmental economics. One example of this was the design team’s adaptation of the lighting and HVAC systems. The Arabian Library has high ceilings that give the building a very open air feeling. At the same time, this adds large of extra space and volume to condition and illuminate. The design team came up with several innovative solutions to address this challenge.

The first was to move from a traditional HVAC system that is placed in the ceiling and use an under floor air distribution system. In a traditional system, cool air falls from the ceiling and is directed to towards the floor effectively cooling the entire volume. In an under floor system, the cool air is pushed up from the floor and only cools the lower “occupied” portion of the space, effectively providing thermal stratification. The second issue was to efficiently provide lighting for a tall space. This was accomplished by integrating the lighting system at the Arabian Library into the book stacks. In areas that did not have reading stacks, lamps were hung from the ceiling at the same level as the stacks – effectively putting light where it is needed – and not 15+ feet on the ceiling.

As a result of these innovations, the project is expected to achieve annual electric and utility savings of 78,000 kWh and $6,700 (18%) respectively, relative to minimally compliant code building. This will reduce carbon footprint of the building by over 80,000 lbs per year.

Articles & Media

• Scottsdale Library
• Metropolis Magazine
• Inhabitat
• Architecture Record