Mary Idema Pew Library receives LEED Platinum certification

Grand Valley State University’s Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons has been awarded LEED® Platinum status by the U.S. Green Building Council — the highest of four possible levels of certification.

As the first LEED Platinum library in Michigan, the facility demonstrates the university’s commitment to sustainable progress through innovative design and construction.

Planned to be the intellectual heart of the Allendale Campus, the facility was completed and dedicated in 2013. LEED certification is based on several factors, including site sustainability, water efficiency, energy use, materials and resources, environmental quality and innovation in design.

With more than 154,000 square feet of space, the Mary Idema Pew Library is more than double the size of the former James H. Zumberge Library and has triple the seating capacity. The library boasts multiple customizable spaces for both quiet studying and collaborative work, more than 700,000 books, one million e-books, an abundance of natural lighting, outdoor work spaces and a Knowledge Marketplace where students can find academic support services.

The library incorporates a multitude of energy management and green practices beyond what are usually incorporated into a library building. These features include energy-efficient under-floor air distribution, super-efficient exterior walls, a heat recovery system to reduce heating demands, low-flow water fixtures that reduce water usage, a rainwater-fed irrigation system to eliminate use of potable water for landscaping and the usage of locally-manufactured materials in the production process, among many others.

“The university embarked on a journey to improve its energy signature more than 10 years ago,” said James Moyer, associate vice president for Facilities Planning. “We concentrated on making the building more energy efficient from both a basic construction perspective and an operations perspective. We had to reduce the energy signature of the buildings, then operate the buildings as designed.”

Moyer said for students, it means a lower operating cost for Grand Valley, which in turn helps the university manage tuition and other costs for students. He said it also provides a more comfortable and healthier environment for Grand Valley students, faculty and staff.

Berkly-based SHW Group/STANTEC — a national firm with focus on higher education facilities — designed the Mary Idema Pew Library. In addition to SHW Group, the project team was comprised of mostly Grand Rapids-based businesses, including ARUP Laboratories; Pioneer Construction; Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber Inc.; and Pacific Northwest National Laboratories.

LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is an internationally recognized green building certification program developed in the U.S. Green Building Council that certifies environmentally sustainable construction projects.  

Grand Valley now owns and operates 18 LEED certified buildings and facilities.

For more information, contact James Moyer at (616) 331-3843 or [email protected].