The City of Kitchener officially celebrated the completion of its sleek, new, energy-efficient library at a grand opening event on September 6, 2014.

Opened to the public this past May, Central Library—the main branch of the Kitchener Public Library—combines a new 25,000-square-foot addition and the restoration of the original library, built in 1961.

The $40-million dollar structure, a collaboration among LGA Architectural Partners in association with WalterFedy and Phillip H. Carter Architect, is a LEED Gold certified building that emphasizes sustainability.

Various green features, such as a green roof, new carpets made from recycled carpets and low-flow toilets, are a few highlights.

Another key feature is the high-efficient triple-glazed curtain wall system that includes nanogel insulation. This see-through insulation becomes a light fixture, radiating light into the interior of the building.

David Warne, partner with LP Architects and one of the project’s lead designers, says there are side benefits to the efficient design. “We use less energy so we can get more out of our infrastructure,” he says. “Taxpayers pay for the upkeep and maintenance of these buildings, so being energy efficient means we can get more out of our library services.”

Mainly funded by the city’s Economic Development Investment Fund, created to spur economic growth and modernize the city’s business community, the renovation took nearly eight years to materialize.

But Warne says the new library, located on 85 Queen Street North in the downtown area, was worth the wait because it sets a valuable standard.

“The library, as a community leader of information, is publicly acknowledging the importance of energy-efficient buildings, leading by example,” he says. “By reaching the LEED Gold standard for one of the biggest public buildings in Kitchener, the city and library are also committing to the belief that sustainable design is critically important for the future of our communities.”