Space to Think

The center of our daily lives is our library, both in terms of its key location at the north end of the plaza and its attraction as a gathering place for students and teachers.  Opened in August of 2006, Prep’s library is the first ground-up construction in Santa Fe to receive gold status, the second highest under the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) point-based rating system. 

Here students gather to study together at group tables, work quietly in individual study carrels, write papers on networked computers, relax to read newspapers or magazines, and roam the shelves to find books for research or pleasure reading.  It is a gracious, inspiring space made all the more meaningful by its environmental aspirations.

The building was designed to meet the rigorous standards required by the U.S. Green Building Council.  Virtually all of the construction waste was recycled rather than sent to landfills.  We’re capturing nearly 90,000 gallons of water a year from roof run-off to irrigate campus landscaping.  The building uses 30% less energy than a traditional building of its size.  Most of the materials used in the building came from within a 500-mile radius, promoting local enterprise and saving transportation costs and energy use.  Daylighting is used throughout the building--on most school days, no lights are on in the upper level.  These are but a few of the environmental aspects of our building.

Our library itself is a teaching tool, promoting the school’s commitment to sustainability and reminding us daily that institutions, like individuals, must be responsible for our use of resources.