Although the City of Wichita does not LEED certify its facilities, the library’s staff and team designing the new Advanced Learning Library wanted to ensure that safety, education and conservancy of resources were reflected in the building design. The opportunity was to coordinate design decisions with the Police, Public Works and Parks Departments and to use storytelling to educate the community about how these departments had contributed to the creation of a sustainable library facility.

Key elements of the innovation were a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) review by the Wichita Police to ensure safety of the building and grounds; use of native plants and drought-resistant turf selected jointly with the Parks Department; and construction reviews with the Public Works staff to ensure that building materials and treatments would be durable and easy to maintain. Library staff use video storytelling to explain the stewardship efforts that might otherwise be overlooked by residents.

By educating the community about the stewardship choices made during construction of the Advanced Learning Library, the library is building upon efforts of the City of Wichita to promote the importance of water conservation and the avoidance of contributing to ozone in the air. Within the building, items use natural lighting and durable, easy-to-maintain finishes to create a healthier internal environment while reducing tax support required for building and grounds maintenance.