Mashpee, MA – The story began over a year ago, when ground was broken on a new, state-of-the-art library for the Cape Cod town of Mashpee. With construction by SouthCoast-based Bufftree Building Company now complete, the next chapter began on Cape Cod’s first LEED-certified public library – and one of the first in Massachusetts – with the official ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 2nd. On Friday, April 16th, the doors will open to the Mashpee community, and grand-opening festivities will mark a new era in the delivery of library services to the people of the town.
Rick Pomroy, Project Manager for the Town of Mashpee and principal of Pomroy Associates LLC of South Easton, MA, describes the facility as “the integration of Internet age technology with the historical aspects of a library.” A professional in the construction and project management industry for over 25 years, Rick calls Bufftree “by far one of the best contractors I have ever worked with in the municipal sector. From top to bottom, I was thoroughly impressed with the quality of their work and how they service their clients.”
The library is on track to receive Gold certification in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system devised by the United States Green Building Council, Rick notes. The Gold rating, the second-highest for the implementation of green building practices, brings many benefits to both users and the town, he says. “Low volatile organic compounds (VOC) materials make it safer for the occupants, the climate controls make it more comfortable for the patrons and the energy efficiencies save utilities and ultimately money for Mashpee’s taxpayers.” The library incorporates a 21.1kW photovoltaic energy generation system, or solar panels to the layman, to help fuel the building’s lighting, electrical components and air conditioning. Heat is generated by a high-efficiency, gas-fired boiler, and an energy recovery system is used to reclaim heat and cooling.
The first thing that patrons will see upon entering the library is a weather station monitor that Rick describes as “a fun, educational component of the design” done by architect Stewart Roberts Associates, Inc. of Somerville, MA. The weather station’s interactive touch screen enables patrons to see the energy that is being generated from this green building. Some of the library’s other exceptional features include a digital information screen containing town news; pay-as-you-go computer systems available to the public along with an in-house computer management facility; digitally controlled self-check units for taking books out of the library; and a quasi-library store with DVDs and music videos that can be checked out. The site also includes a community events room for the use of the townspeople and a children’s outdoor story garden or reading area.
Rick also cites the efforts that were made to make a library visit as inviting as possible. “Comfort areas are everywhere,” he says, complete with overstuffed wingback chairs and commodious sitting space, all in view of the park that the library overlooks.
Where did the vision for this 21st century library in the online information age come from?
While taking pride in his own role and that of Pomroy Associates in guiding the town through the design, development and construction process, Rick is quick to give credit to all the players on the project’s strong team and singles out Bufftree Building Company for special mention. “It is very rare to find a company like Bufftree in the public sector, where each project is generally awarded to the lowest bidder. Way too often, the lowest bidder has a different view about quality and client service but that’s not true with Bufftree. That’s what makes them so unique.”
