Our building

The ARC consists of an environmentally controlled vault containing metal bins and robotic cranes. The retrieval process takes just a few minutes and the item is delivered to the service desk for collection.

• The ARC holds lesser-used Library resources in dense storage and takes up one-seventh the size of typical library shelving – reducing our required floor space by 11,000 square metres.
• Our smaller size also reduces our ecological footprint, water consumption, electricity and other consumables.
• The ARC has allowed us to consolidate our off-site storage, making library resources immediately available, and saving on transport costs, energy and emissions.

See the ARC in action.

The landscaped grass and plants at the rear of the building are part of a green roof covering the western half of level 2. A smaller green roof is on the top of level 5.

• We collect water from the green roof (an area of more than 6700 square metres) and store it in a 278,000-litre underground storage tank. This water is used in Library toilets and garden irrigation.
• Collecting this water reduces stormwater run-off and reduces the amount of water the Library takes from Sydney’s water supply.
• Drought-resistant native plants populate the green roof. Drip irrigation runs beneath the green roof surface, giving more efficient and effective water use and less loss to evaporation.

Natural light was influential in the design of the Library. Artificial lighting can account for 35 per cent of electrical energy use in a building.

• Our building has a glass façade to maximise natural light and glazing to filter glare.
• The external striped ‘shade blades’ also optimise daylight and assist in heat control.
• There are automated and manual blinds throughout the building to regulate light.
• Artificial lighting within the building was designed to detect motion and the amount of natural light present and switch off when not needed.

Sustainability was a key factor in the Library’s construction. 80 per cent of all construction waste was recycled.

• Raw steel production is very resource and energy-intensive, producing heavy metal waste. 45 per cent of steel used in the construction of the Library was created from post-consumer recycled content, thus reducing the environmental impacts of production.
• Ceiling tiles and water drainage cells also contain post-consumer recycled content, as do the carpet tiles used throughout the building. Having carpet in tiles means that individual tiles can be replaced as necessary, and this will reduce the amount thrown into landfills.
• Much of the furniture selected for the Library is certified by ‘Good Environmental Choice Australia’.