The Library of the Future: Health, Wellbeing, & Sustainability

Description: For decades we have discussed what the libraries of the future would be to have a direct impact on the health and wellbeing of those who work and visit. For decades we have forecasted building designs that could have a direct impact on climate change. Those libraries have been built, are being built, and are in design. The 2030 challenge for buildings impacting climate change is upon us in a few short years.

Come and learn the best practices that are having an impact on the lives of so many community members across the nation through the healthy and sustainable libraries they have built and how they are contributing to diminish climate change through the 2030 challenge and COTE Top Ten Principles. This session will provide information from case studies and current methods that are being successfully used and implemented along with ways to fund these needed methodologies such as how to access federal funds from the Inflation Reduction Act.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the webinar, attendees will be able to:

• How to access federal funds for Sustainability from the Inflation Reduction Act
• Best practices for decisions to impact the health and wellbeing of library occupants.
• Understanding the 2030 challenge and COTE Top Ten Sustainability principles.

Who Should Attend: Leadership and Management; Buildings and Operations

Presenters:

Simona Fischer is a registered architect, associate, and director of sustainable practice with MSR Design in Minneapolis. She develops processes to integrate sustainable design seamlessly into the workflow of architectural practice, specializing in the intersection of energy performance, the carbon and health of materials, and high-performance envelope assemblies for cold climates. Simona is currently serving on the national AIA Materials Pledge working group, the AIA Minneapolis Board of Directors, and the Circularity and Low-Carbon Specs committees of the Minnesota Carbon Leadership Forum. In 2023 Simona was a recipient of the National AIA 2023 Young Architects Award.

Veronica Karr believes that the most successful projects arise from an interdisciplinary approach. Working in a broad spectrum of scales, ranging from furniture and graphics to architectural and interior design, she is constantly toggling between the big picture concept and the fine details that, together, make a project remarkable. Veronica creates spaces that not only tread lightly on our environment and bodies, but also promote well-being. She is actively involved in organizations focused on these and other sustainable design issues, including as a member of the mindful MATERIALS (mM) AEC Catalyst Forum.

Emily Gross An interior designer and associate with MSR Design, Emily Gross is passionate about developing concepts to inform an interdisciplinary design process from start to finish. She focuses on creating spaces that are intuitively designed for users and offer an inclusive sense of place. Emily brings her expertise in sustainable design to every project, resulting in high-performing, well-designed spaces. She participated in the METROPOLIS Sustainability Hackathon workshops in 2021, which culminated in the METROPOLIS Climate Toolkit for Interior Design, and the METROPOLIS Circular Future Hackathon in 2024. Interior Design Magazine honored Emily with a NEXT Award in 2024.

Tech Requirements

Core Webinars are held in Zoom. Speakers or a headset for listening to the presentation are required. You may interact with the presenter and ask questions through text-based chat. Closed captioning is available in the Zoom platform. The webcast will be recorded and the link to the recording shared with registrants shortly after the live event.