The Durango Public Library project was a high-profile, community-focused project. Okland was asked to come up with a project budget from very preliminary conceptual sketches. The budget was then taken to bond election; when approved, Okland was hired by the City of Durango to work with the architect and team through design and construction to get the project successfully completed within the original budget. With extraordinary teaming, we successfully completed the project within 3% of the the original budget (with additional scope added to include river trail fixes and a community garden). During the initial planning of the Durango Public Library, achieving LEED Gold certification didn’t seem feasible. However, when community members insisted, the city and library wholeheartedly plunged into creating Colorado’s first LEED Gold library. The new two-story, steel framed building is located on the past Mercy Hospital site along the Animas River and features aluminum sun-mitigation sunshades, self-adjusting shades, and an automatic lighting system that dims and brightens in response to the amount of daylight. The raised flooring above the electrical and ventilation will facilitate future changes. Additional features include RFID, self-service, and an automated materials handling system. While the library gives off a decidedly “homey” feel, with its two fireplaces and lots of wood, it comes equipped with numerous computers, a teen space that feels like a café, many different areas to read, Wi-Fi inside and out, and program rooms designed to flex for a variety of uses. The project achieved LEED Gold Certification.