St David's Partnership Delivers Most Sustainable Building in Cardiff

St David's Partnership is proud to be delivering Cardiff's first city centre building ever to achieve top marks for its green design credentials - the state-of-the-art new library on the southern end of the Hayes.

Boasting 55,000 sq feet of floor space across five floors, the new library achieved a BREEAM* rating of excellent thanks to its range of sustainable features to maximise natural light and heat to keep energy consumption down. These green features include the latest energy saving lighting system and the eco-friendly Sedum grass roof which not only insulates the building in winter but prevents heat gain in summer and helps remove carbon dioxide and other pollutants from the air. All of which have helped in making the new library the most sustainable new building in the capital.

A landmark facility for all ages and groups, the new library not only provides books and literature, but is truly a 21st century venture with study spaces, reading areas, meeting rooms and the very latest electronic stock management, educational materials, information and multi-media entertainment. Opening to the public on 14 March 2009, the library has been provided as part of landmark £675m, St David's 2 development. It was constructed by contractors Laing O'Rourke thanks to £13m funding from St. David's Partnership. The new library will be managed and maintained by Cardiff City Council with St David's Partnership as landlord to the three street-level restaurants wagamama (noodle bar), Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Strada.

Andrew Dudley from St David's Partnership, the joint venture between Land Securities and Capital Shopping Centres said:

'The St David's Partnership is proud to be delivering such an iconic building that not only provides a fantastic state-of-the-art public resource but is also one of the most eco-friendly buildings in South Wales. The new library really is something very special and will be recognised by the people of Cardiff as a complete entertainment destination that provides an ideal environment to learn, contemplate and relax.'

Council Leader, Cllr Rodney Berman said: 'We are committed to reducing carbon emissions in Cardiff and during the design of the new library it was essential that such an iconic building in the capital city should be sustainable. I am very proud that the new library is a BREEAM excellent rated building. The library has so many features to offer the residents of Cardiff and I am delighted that one of those features is to help protect the environment.'

Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Nigel Howells, said: 'To be given a BREEAM excellent rating is fantastic. We have worked hard in ensuring that every aspect of the new library id eco friendly. Being energy efficient not only helps the planet but it helps us to make savings on running costs.'

* BREEAM is the world's most widely used environmental assessment method for buildings
against set criteria

KEY SUSTAINABLE FEATURES:
• The library is mostly glazed with coloured glass panels to minimise solar heat gain. Together with the high thermal mass concrete structure and building façade, this all helps to modify and control the building's temperature

• The library features lighting motion day and night detectors, which means lights will automatically be switched on and off as people enter or leave a room. The detector also measures the amount of external light coming through the windows and adapts lighting levels accordingly.

• There is a building management system for heating, lighting and airflow to maintain efficient energy usage, this system will mean that each floor will be individually controlled.

• The water system is also eco-friendly with controlled water flows and low flush levels which will produce minimum waste. Additionally the libraries interior fittings also have sustainable qualities, including items such as recycled carpet materials and timber from FSE accredited sources.

• The Library's most renowned and unique top energy saving feature, is its eco-friendly Sedum roof. The roof not only insulates the building to minimise heat loss in the winter but also prevents heat gain in the summer. It also reduces rainwater run off and helps remove carbon dioxide and other pollutants from the air.

• A Green Travel Plan has been developed. The library building has a bus stop attached to its rear. The site will be well served by public transport

• Facilities are provided in the completed buildings for the separation of waste and recyclable materials and a Waste Management Plan developed

• On completion, when the details of the rating system are published, the buildings will be provided with an energy asset rating certificate in accordance with the EPBD. EPC available and displayed!

• Access groups along with Cardiff Institute of the Blind were consulted to ensure that the building can be enjoyed by all users

• The above features have resulted in a reduction in C02 of over 20% compared with a building constructed to current Building Regulations

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