Norwell Public Library

Norwell, Massachusetts
United States

Nestled in the trees, a lantern-like glow warmly welcomes visitors to the Norwell Public Library. Pendants automatically dim during the day as daylight floods the space from double height windows. Groups of nature-inspired decorative pendants break up the expansive adult reading room and playful luminous orbs create a magical environment and place for discovery in the children’s reading room.

Maintaining a dark skies friendly environment was critical to the community’s sustainability goals. Warm, intimate lighting glows from the reading rooms and uplights tucked into the window mullion illuminates the canopy with zero uplight beyond. The lighting creates an intimate, inviting and peaceful retreat for visitors that is also highly efficacious, achieving 22% electricity use below energy code.