The Newton County Library System dedicated the Porter Memorial Branch Library on January 10. The 19,200 square foot library, located about 30 miles east of Atlanta, is seeking LEED Gold Certification. The project is expected to be the first LEED Gold library in the state of Georgia. “LEED” – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – is a green building certification system developed by the US Green Building Council.
The library’s main sustainable features include a raised access floor system used for HVAC, a 20,000 gallon rainwater collection system used for flushing toilets and irrigation, and a daylighting control system that is maximized by the building’s orientation on a true East-West axis.
The branch is named in honor of James Hyde Porter and features adult and children’s books, audio books, DVD’s and music CDs, and public computing with Internet access. Also included are a Teen Room, Quiet Room, study rooms, and meeting rooms. The project was designed by Craig Gaulden Davis and constructed by Hogan Construction of Norcross, Georgia.
