The National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) has recognized the expansion and transformation of Colorado College’s Tutt Library with an Innovation Award. One of three such awards bestowed by the organization in 2017, it honors institutions that have improved processes or enhanced resources. The 94,317-sf Tutt Library is now the nation’s largest carbon-neutral net-zero library, despite the addition of approximately 37,000 sf and doubling the seating capacity—the result of a complex collaborative planning design and construction process. Other features include upgraded technology and new cutting-edge teaching and 24/7 collaboration spaces, which support the College’s Block Plan, during which one subject is studied intensively for 3½ weeks. Among its many sustainability features are a high-performance building envelope, 115kW onsite and 400kW offsite photovoltaic solar arrays, a geothermal heating and cooling system, and LED lighting with occupancy and daylighting controls. When net zero is achieved, anticipated in 2019, energy costs will be reduced by $83K annually.

(July 2017)