King Fahad National Library

The sweeping, geometric arrangement of the new 20,000 square meter building encloses the library from the 1980s, which is still clearly visible at the heart of the new complex. Drees & Sommer experts developed an excellent energy concept for the library with comprehensive optimization measures. In addition to the impressive new façade made of shading elements, the team ensured the building is efficiently ventilated and cooled using stratified ventilation and underfloor cooling. This meant that the concept increased thermal comfort for visitors inside, despite the notoriously high outside temperatures, and significantly reduced the building’s energy consumption.