While constructing Pittsfield, Michigan’s library, the team works to separate wood, plastic and metal waste to be reused in construction — diverting at least 50% of the usual construction waste from going to a landfill.

The library building, opened to the public in 2006, was built with sustainability in mind; focusing on both materials used during construction, as well as working to stay as sustainable as possible while in operation. 

According to the Ann Arbor District Library’s summary of the building’s construction, the library’s window frames are all made from recycled aluminum. It’s carpet is woven with 50% recycled content yarn. It’s walls are insulated with 90% recycled material, and the drywall used is 50% recycled content at minimum.

Along with these recycled materials, the library also works to minimize its energy consumption on a daily basis. The indoor lighting automatically adjusts itself based on the light shining in from the outdoors. The main space of the library faces south in order to capture maximum heating from the winter sun — along with a wall designed to admit maximum solar radiation in the winter, while blocking out direct sun in the summer.