Nashville Public Library's Donelson Branch earns Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award

The Nashville Public Library–Donelson Branch has been selected as the 2025 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award winner for the Building Green category.  In the heart of Donelson, a suburb east of downtown Nashville, the modern civic landmark is redefining what public spaces can achieve. The branch, which officially opened its doors in June of 2024, is a community hub, a sustainability showcase, and a model for responsible development in urban revitalization. On the site of a declining strip mall, the 24,014-square-foot facility is an example of environmentally conscious design, earning LEED Gold Certification. From geothermal wells to solar power and native landscaping, every inch was designed to serve the public and protect the planet. The high-performance green building design includes a 33-kilowatt rooftop solar array, a geo-exchange system with 30 500-foot wells for efficient heating and cooling, LED lighting with daylight sensors and building automation, high-efficiency plumbing fixtures, native/adaptive landscaping and irrigation design, permeable pavers, a bioswale for stormwater filtration, and flood mitigation.