SUSTAINABLE/

GREEN BUILDING
WITH INNOVATIVE
BUILDING
TECHNOLOGY

AYSON, JAMES DAVID D.

ARCH 41S1
SALT LAKE
CITY PUBLIC
LIBRARY
Designed by Safdie Architects
The Salt Lake City Public Library was
designed by Moshe Safdie and
Associates, and construction of the
building began in 1999. The library
was completed and opened to the
public in 2003.
DESIGN CONCEPT
The Salt Lake City Public Library's
design concept was inspired by the
region's natural landscape and
geological formations.
The library's exterior is designed to
resemble the crystalline formations.
The building's jagged angles and
irregular shapes create a striking
contrast against the city's grid pattern.
The library's interior spaces are
designed to be flexible and adaptable,
with movable furniture and walls that
can be rearranged to accommodate
different needs and events.
PLANS AND
DEVELOPMEN
T
The library is located on a 2.5-acre site in
downtown Salt Lake City, adjacent to a
major public transportation hub and
surrounded by commercial, residential, and
cultural amenities. The site design includes
a large public plaza, which serves as a
gathering space for visitors and events.

It’s site development plan incorporates a

range of sustainable design features,
including green roofs, rainwater harvesting,
and stormwater management strategies.
The library's central atrium also provides
natural ventilation and passive heating and
cooling.
First floor:
The library's first floor includes a
large central atrium with a
skylight, as well as a children's
library, a cafe, a gift shop, and
meeting rooms.
Second floor:
The second floor includes a large
collection of books and other
materials, as well as computer
stations, study areas, and a
reference desk.
Third floor:
The third floor includes additional
collections of books and other
materials, as well as study areas,
meeting rooms, and a small
theater.
Fourth floor:
The fourth floor includes
additional study areas, meeting
rooms, and collections of books
and other materials, as well as a
rooftop garden.
Fourth floor:
The fourth floor includes
additional study areas, meeting
rooms, and collections of books
and other materials, as well as a
rooftop garden.
DEVELOPMENT
The Salt Lake City Public Library features a unique floor
system that was designed to accommodate the building's
irregular shape and to support the weight of the library's
many books and other materials.

• Concrete slab: The library's floors are constructed from a

thick concrete slab that provides stability and durability.

• Steel trusses: The library's irregular shape required a

system of steel trusses to support the concrete slab. The
trusses are visible in some areas of the building, adding
to the library's industrial aesthetic.

• Raised floor: The library's first floor is raised slightly

above street level to provide additional support for the
building's weight and to protect the library's collections
from potential flooding.
SUSTAINABLE
DESIGN
The Salt Lake City Public Library
was designed and constructed with
many sustainable features that
helped it to earn LEED (Leadership
in Energy and Environmental
Design) certification.

The library earned LEED Silver

certification, which is the third-
highest level of certification in the
LEED program.
Energy efficiency

The library was designed to maximize energy efficiency. It features a unique design with a curving glass exterior that helps to
reduce heat gain during the summer and retain warmth during the winter. Additionally, the building uses a ground-source heat
pump system that provides heating and cooling using the natural heat of the earth. 

Use of natural light:

It has an abundance of natural light, thanks to its many windows and skylights. This helps to reduce the need for artificial
lighting, which saves energy.

Water conservation

A rainwater harvesting system is included to collect rainwater, which is then used for irrigation and flushing toilets.
Additionally, low flow plumbing fixtures are installed throughout the building to reduce water consumption.

Use of recycled materials

The library was constructed using a significant number of recycled materials, including concrete, steel, and glass.

Green roof

The library features a green roof that helps to reduce the urban heat island effect and absorb stormwater runoff.
BUILDING
TECHNOLOGY
The use of a geothermal heating and cooling
system
A unique building envelope design
A green roof
Rainwater harvesting system
Passive solar design
ZUELLIG
BUILDING

Designed by Skidmore, Owings &

Merrill (SOM) architectural firm
The Zuellig Building is a high-rise
office building located in the central
business district of Makati City,
Philippines. It was designed by
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)
and completed in 2012.
The building stands 155 meters tall
with 33 floors and has a total floor
area of approximately 65,000 square
meters.
DESIGN CONCEPT
The concept of the Zuellig Building is based on the idea
of creating a modern, sustainable, and efficient office
tower that maximizes natural light and offers stunning
views of the city. The building's form is a simple and
elegant rectangular shape, with a tapered top that
reduces the building's overall massing and creates a
distinctive silhouette.
PLANS AND
DEVELOPMENT

The site development plan includes a 7,500

square meter (80,700 square foot) site that is
developed to maximize the building's footprint
and provide a pedestrian-friendly environment.
A set back is made from the street to create a
public plaza that serves as a gathering place
and a landscaped buffer from the busy streets.
It also includes a three-level underground
parking garage that provides ample parking
space for tenants and visitors. The garage is
accessed from Makati Avenue and provides a
convenient and secure parking solution in the
heart of the city.
The floor plan of the Zuellig Building
consists of typical office floors with a
rectangular shape, measuring approximately
1,980 square meters (21,300 square feet) in
area.
Each office floor features an open plan layout
with a central core area that houses the
elevators, stairwells, and building services.
The typical floor plan includes a reception area,
meeting rooms, private offices, workstations, and
support areas such as pantries and restrooms. The
layout is flexible, allowing for various configurations
to suit the needs of different tenants.
The building's penthouse level features a fitness
center, a function room, and a landscaped rooftop
garden that provides a green oasis in the heart of the
city.
Each floor plate offers between 1,870 and 1,945
square meters of leasable office space per floor with
a column-free layout that provides maximum
efficiency and flexibility.
The floor system of the Zuellig Building is a composite steel deck and concrete
slab system, which is a commonly used system in high-rise buildings.
The composite floor system consists of a steel deck that serves as a formwork
for the concrete slab and acts as the tensile reinforcement for the composite
section.
DEVELOPMENT
• Foundation:

The building sits on a reinforced concrete foundation that was designed to withstand earthquakes and other natural
disasters.

• Structural System:

The building features a steel frame structural system with concrete floor slabs.
• Curtain Wall System:

The building's facade features a high-performance curtain wall system, which is made up of glass and aluminum
panels.
• Mechanical and Electrical Systems:

The building's mechanical and electrical systems were designed to be energy-efficient and to reduce the building's
environmental impact.
• Green Spaces:

The building features several green spaces, including a landscaped roof garden and a sky garden on the 33rd
floor.
• Seismic Design:

The building was designed to withstand the earthquakes and typhoons that are common in the Philippines.
• Construction Materials:

The building uses sustainable and locally sourced construction materials wherever possible. For example, the
building's curtain wall system uses low-emissivity (Low-E) glass, which reduces the amount of heat that enters
the building and minimizes the need for air conditioning.
• Water Conservation:

The building incorporates several features to conserve water, including low flow plumbing fixtures, a rainwater
harvesting system, and a wastewater treatment system.
• Waste Reduction:

During construction, the building's construction waste was carefully managed and recycled or reused wherever
possible.
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

The building was designed and constructed to meet the criteria

for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
Gold certification, which is a globally recognized rating system
for sustainable buildings.

The building also received certification from the Philippine Green

Building Council and the Building for Ecologically Responsive Design
Excellence (BERDE) program.
Energy Efficiency: The building has a high-performance glazing system
that maximizes natural light while minimizing solar heat gain.
Water Efficiency: The Zuellig Building uses a rainwater harvesting
system to collect rainwater, which is then used for landscape irrigation
and toilet flushing.
Sustainable Materials: The building's construction materials were
carefully selected to be environmentally friendly, with a focus on using
materials that have a low impact on the environment. For example, the
building's flooring is made from recycled materials, and the ceiling tiles
are made from low-emitting materials.
Green Spaces: The building features several green spaces, including a
landscaped roof garden and a sky garden on the 33rd floor.
BUIDLING TECHNOLOGY
Chilled Beam Cooling System
The Zuellig Building uses a chilled beam cooling system, which is an innovative
air conditioning system that reduces energy consumption by up to 40%. The
system works by using chilled water to cool the building's air, which is then
circulated through a series of passive cooling units called "chilled beams.“
Rainwater Harvesting System

The building incorporates a rainwater harvesting system, which collects

rainwater from the building's roof and stores it in a tank for later use.
Low-E Glass

The building's facade features low-emissivity (Low-E) glass, which reduces the
amount of heat that enters the building while still allowing natural light to pass
through.
Green Roof
The Zuellig Building has a green roof, which is a
roof that is covered in vegetation.
Efficient Lighting
The building's lighting system is designed to be
energy-efficient, with motion sensors that turn
lights off when a room is unoccupied.