Reducing carbon emissions was a key goal of the project, according to Lesak.
“California’s energy codes set a high ‘floor’ when it comes to emissions,” he shares. “The team also wanted to capitalize on the energy rebates that came with meeting certain metrics, such as roof reflectivity and equipment efficiency.”
Adaptive reuse and preservation helped achieve these goals, he adds.
Lesak explains that Page & Turnbull calculated that the embodied energy contained within the retained existing building shell and structure — concrete, bricks, steel, glass, etc. — equates to roughly 10,700 metric tons of embodied carbon dioxide (CO2).
“Reuse avoids the impact of CO2 from new construction,” he says. “Existing materials (like the grand staircase) were preserved or reused, while sustainable materials were employed throughout.”
He adds that in all, “by adapting what was a public library instead of constructing a new building, the project lessens the embodied carbon for a new ‘baseline’ building by almost two-thirds (850 kBTU per square foot).”
Reusing the existing building also eliminated costs and carbon emissions associated with demolition energy and transportation fuel. Retrofitting the library with new systems contributed to a 40 percent improvement in operating efficiency, he adds.
“The library was still using its original 55-year-old equipment, which had well exceeded its service life,” he explains. “The building also needed more robust humidity control to achieve a museum-quality environment. To modernize the building with energy-efficient mechanical systems, the design team installed and updated electrical and HVAC systems.”
LED lighting was also installed throughout the building to save energy, he adds.
In fact, LED lights were used for both work/ambient lighting and exhibit lighting. “The combined systems instill a bright and welcoming environment, and state-of-the-art display track lighting lets the staff change lighting as exhibits change,” he says.
To retain the character-defining mid-century feel, the design team also restored the building’s original ball pendant lights that were suspended from the plaster dome ceilings.
Lesak estimates that adapting and reusing the library in this way prevented about 10,700 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions — the equivalent of more than 2,544 cars' yearly emissions, 11.7 million pounds of coal, or charging 705 million smartphones, according to the EPA.
“In all, the project team avoided sending 3,700 tons of waste to a landfill,” he says.
“Retrofitting a building from 1963 into a 2022 code-compliant museum facility required hands on coordination between construction and design teams with many disciplines, including architectural, mechanical, plumbing and electrical engineering,” Lesak says.
Sometimes, these collaborations involved innovative methods or the use of special materials. For example, the building’s structural design required precise tolerances for the central mural wall. The team had to make sure that the steel, lighting, lenticular art and glass met 1/16-inch tolerances from the structure to the finish plane, he explains.
“Structural coordination was also needed to remove the concrete slab on the second level to create the two-story zocalo, in what was originally a floor,” he says. “Another collaborative process involved the painstaking cleaning and treatment of interior brick walls, the original concrete slab, and 1960s acoustical ceiling tiles, which were reused in the artist-in-residence space.”
There were also situations where the original infrastructure impacted the design intent, he adds.
Close collaboration between construction and design teams was necessary for the facility upgrade. The work included new outlets throughout the building, roof supports for mechanical equipment, new electrical panels, and new concrete and railings for an ADA-compliant exterior.
The Cheech has been a resounding success, according to a City of Riverside press release.
“Partnerships are flourishing in Riverside, but few have proved more fruitful than the public-private moon shot we call The Cheech,” says Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson in her State of the City address. “And we have the data to prove it.”
The release notes the museum has pumped $29 million into the Riverside economy in its first two years of operation. It has also drawn 227,932 visitors to the museum, with nearly 90 percent of them coming from outside the area.
“The benefits of an adaptive reuse project are tangible and intangible,” Lesak says. “Tangibly, by reusing existing and historic buildings, we’re saving tons of concrete, steel, masonry and other building materials from the landfill (and the energy that it takes to transport them too). Intangibly, historic buildings embody the stories of a community. By retaining and reusing the buildings, they take on new life and meet the contemporary needs, but still stand as a reminder of another time. A community thrives on continuity and adaptively reusing historic buildings creates continuity.”
According to Lesak, these projects require the involvement and support of the entire community to succeed. He says outreach and engagement are necessary for this to happen.
“Because it was important for the new museum to resonate with downtown Riverside’s historic community, the project design team sought input on the design and attributes of The Cheech from community members through multiple outreach workshops and an art walk held for local residents,” he says.
Lesak shares these interactions to help identify several guiding principles for the project. A notable addition was the “Radical Hospitality” space that is welcoming, safe and familiar. Community collaboration also helped create a transformative experience, achieved through vibrant colors and a setting designed to foster discussion and encourage improvisation.
Positive results are also achieved by understanding what historic features are significant before starting the project, Lesak says. He also recommends working with a team experienced in historic preservation.
In a historic building, facility managers also need an “understanding of how to properly care for historic materials, which may mean specifying different cleaning products and equipment,” he stresses.
It could also involve integrating modern fire, life safety, accessibility, and other code standards, while being mindful of the building's historical features. Identifying and integrating existing sustainable features into a contemporary design is also crucial, saving construction and operating costs, Lesak notes, "provided it's done correctly."
The adaptive reuse of buildings, such as the old Riverside library, is a sensible choice, Lesak concludes. It preserves structures instead of demolishing them, reducing waste in landfills and lowering CO2 emissions. The refurbished buildings gain a fresh purpose, with updated mechanical systems and lighting that are energy efficient.
Ronnie Wendt is a freelance writer based in Minocqua, Wisconsin.
Turning the Pages on an Old Library Building
Carbon Emission Reductions Goal of Adaptive Reuse Project
