Pardon our dust - Main Library’s sustainability renovations

It’s hard not to notice that Northwestern’s campus is constantly changing. Over the last year, more than a dozen notable projects have begun, from the recently completed F-G-Wing addition in Tech to the Mid-Campus Green project, which will be completed this summer. NU’s facilities and operations team makes sustainability a priority in every project, from improving the energy efficiency of our existing spaces to diverting and recycling construction waste whenever possible.

The Main library is a great example of one of Northwestern’s iconic buildings that has already engaged in a number of sustainability initiatives – upgrading lighting and improving the heating and cooling systems – and more efforts are underway. The library is undergoing extensive window renovations.  Replacement windows will utilize low-E glass and better sealing to reduce solar energy gain in the summer, and ensure heating and cooling is not wasted in the winter. And we’re doing more to let students and staff know about the changes were making.

Thanks to University Relations and Facilities Management, the Main library project is showcased by signage highlighting the green benefits of the project. Dave Grosskopf, NU’s Project Manager believes the NU community wants to know what the University is doing around sustainability, “It’s important to communicate with our campus community why construction is taking place and that facilities management considers sustainable approaches in  building renovations.” The glass waste from this project will also be recycled and the wooded frames will be reused, significantly lowering the waste and impact of this energy conservation initiative.