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  The Straits Times, 26 Jun 05
New library is smart - and full of 'green' stuff
High-tech building wins top eco-friendly award
By Kristina Tom

THE new 16-storey National Library headquarters at Victoria Street may seem just like any of the city's other cold metal-and-glass structures.

But the fact is, at its core is a very eco-friendly heart. It is not just that high-tech gadgetry makes this building cost-effective; it has actually been designed around many environmental concerns.

For example, it has rain sensors with an automated irrigation system to help conserve water. Once there's a natural supply of water for the rooftop garden and its other specially landscaped green spaces, the sprinklers simply shut off on their own.

Additional energy-saving measures include daylight sensors that cause the lights to dim or switch off, depending on the amount of natural light entering the library. Motion sensors also activate escalators, conserving power when they're not in use.

The highly intelligent building also has automatic blinds along its western face which are activated in the evenings when the sun is low and fixed shades are ineffective, reducing glare and heat from the sun. All this reduces the load on the air-conditioning system.

But the offices in it are anything but stuffy, thanks to its designers, who have the building facing away from the east-west path of the sun. T. R. Hamzah and Yeang handled architectural design, while Buro Happold Singapore oversaw engineering.

With the shades on the outside of the building, this helps keep things naturally cool. The library is also split into two blocks, with an open plaza in between to allow the breeze in. So, even on a hot day, the open space feels cool and windy.

National Library Board chief executive N. Varaprasad, 56, said: 'The idea of a green building was part of the design concept from the very beginning. It wasn't something that was just tacked on.

'If you look at any new building that's being constructed, you have to look ahead over the next 30 years. In that sense, environmental sensitivity is a key responsibility.'

Such thoughtful design features have earned the new library a Green Mark Platinum award, the highest honour offered by the Building and Construction Authority for environmentally friendly buildings here.

But you won't be able to stop by and enjoy the breeze quite yet. The National Library doesn't open until later next month.
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