Civic: Rosemary Garfoot Public Library
Cross Plains, WI
The design objective was to balance sound library planning and sustainable building strategies to create a unique resource that reflected the communities’ commitment to environmental stewardship. River Architects was hired as the Library Design Architect to team with Berner-Schober Associates to design a new public library for the growing community of Cross Plains.
The 15,137 square foot library demonstrates the effectiveness of combining an inviting, functional, and beautiful design experience with sustainability. The overall layout of the building, with its centered entrance, island-style circulation desk, and the careful window orientation to maximize favorable sunlight penetration to reduce dependence on artificial lighting, illustrates the intentional balance of library planning and sustainable design principles. The overall commitment to sustainability was rewarded with the distinction of becoming the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) public library (Silver Level) in Wisconsin.
