New Canaan, Connecticut, USA
The New Canaan Library in Connecticut, designed by Centerbrook Architects & Planners, is a contemporary civic landmark that reimagines the traditional library as a dynamic, sustainable community hub.
Completed in 2024, the 42,700-square-foot facility replaces an older building, increasing usable space by 30% while reducing energy consumption.
Visitor numbers have surged by 70%, and program offerings have expanded by 250% since its opening.
The design of the library prioritizes openness, connectivity, and adaptability. Natural light floods the central “living room” area, which welcomes guests of all ages.
For its sustainable “character”, the project has been awarded a 2025 Green good Design Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
In addition to a STEM center, maker space, and demonstration kitchen, the building’s layout features areas specifically designated for kids, youths, and adults.
Now acting as a community gathering place, the 1913 “Legacy Building” preserves the town’s architectural heritage.
The landscape uses native plant species and creates diverse habitats to support pollinators, birds, and wildlife.
These include a pollinator pathway, rain gardens, a native cedar grove, and a locust shade garden.
Additionally, glazing and lighting are designed to minimize impacts on birds.
Landscaping design facilitates rainwater absorption and natural infiltration, reducing runoff as it replenishes groundwater.
A green roof combats urban heat island effects, absorbs runoff, and reduces energy consumption during the cooling season. Inside, low-flow plumbing fixtures further conserve water.
Stone walls, chosen for their durability and thermal insulation, are constructed as thin veneers to reduce transportation emissions while maintaining structural integrity.
The design substitutes 30% of the cement with ground glass pozzolan sourced from Connecticut’s recycling stream.
This substitution achieved a one-to-one reduction in carbon emissions, resulting in a 30% decrease compared to the baseline, marking substantial savings in the building’s concrete carbon footprint.
The design uses recycled materials throughout the building, including structural steel and milk jugs for chairs in the children’s library.
Local materials celebrate the beauty of local stone and sustainably sourced wood, including FSC-controlled North American veneers.
A key component of the library’s design is sustainability. With an Energy Use Intensity (EUI) of 17, the all-electric building outperforms the baseline for libraries in this climate by 89%.
Up to 50% of the building’s energy needs are met by solar panels, while the green roof helps control drainage and cool the city.
FSC-certified wood and locally produced stone were among the materials that were carefully chosen for their environmental impact.
Project: New Canaan Library
Architects: Centerbrook Architects and Planners
Design Team: Aaron Emma, Eric Lubeck, Jiaying Bai; Jim Childress, Katie Watts, Ken Cleveland, Mark Herter, and Misha Semënov-Leiva
Client: Turner Construction Company
Photographers: Jeff Goldberg/Esto
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