West End Branch Library: Boston
The city of Boston demonstrates the evolution of co-location, and how projects can maximize sustainability. The city is in the planning phase for a redevelopment of the West End Branch Library. The project, “will include a new two-story branch library and 119 income-restricted units of housing above the library through the Housing with Public Assets initiative, an innovative new program designed to maximize the use of municipal properties for the public good” (Boston, 2022). The city is determined for the project to align with “Boston’s climate goals and commitment to sustainability” (Boston, 2022). The previous cases examined how co-location is a sustainable approach through the lens of social factors. The West End Branch will build upon these principles and introduce sustainable building materials, efficient energy use, and LEED standards. Thus, demonstrating the potential co-location holds in creating sustainable communities.
Mixed-use development, and reducing poverty are important factors in creating sustainable communities. However, these concepts alone do not go far enough in mitigating climate change. The development of the built environment holds a major portion of carbon emissions. According to the United Nations, the construction and buildings sector produced, “over 34% of energy demand and around 37% of energy and process-related CO2 emissions in 2021” (UN, 2022). Therefore, implementing sustainable building practices for affordable mixed-use development is necessary to form sustainable communities.
The West End Library is being constructed to meet LEED standards, “green buildings in the LEED-‐EBOM dataset produced 50% less GHGs due to water consumption than baseline buildings, 48% less due to solid waste management, and 5% less due to transportation” (Mozingo, Arens, 2014, p. 7). This goal demonstrates the optimization of co-location by implementing efficient energy systems that reduce the overall environmental footprint of the built environment. The project will also include, “12 stories of mass timber framing (CLT)” (Boston, 2023). Mass timber is a feasible, and sustainable alternative to traditional building materials. The manufacturing of mass timber products, “typically require less embodied energy to manufacture than other building materials” (Cover, 2020, p.88). The reduction of energy use in the manufacturing process, reduces the overall greenhouse gas emissions, compared to traditional materials.