The Williams Bookstore

Williams College
Williamstown, MA

The Williams Bookstore was designed to meet advanced sustainability goals while also being a vibrant community asset for residents, visitors, students, and faculty. Located in the commercial center of Williamstown, the 15,000 sf building includes retail, a reading room, café, meeting and event space, and third-floor commercial offices. The building achieved LEED Platinum Certification. 

RFS prepared a parametric energy model early in design to evaluate mechanical system and building envelope options. MEP systems enable Zero Onsite Carbon Emissions and are complimented a 25kW roof-mounted photovoltaic solar array.   

Thermal energy for heating and air conditioning is provided via low-ambient temperature air-source heat pump systems, with all equipment integrated with the detailed architecture. The lighting design includes high-efficacy LED lighting, daylight monitoring with automated dimming, and a building-wide networked lighting controls system.

Recognition
LEED Platinum Certified
American School & University, Architecture Portfolio Special Citation
Brick Architecture Award, Gold Winner
IES, Illumination Award
LOOP Design Awards, Honorable Mention

Services
Mechanical
Electrical
Plumbing
Fire Protection
Technology

Metrics
15,000 sf
25 kW Photovoltaic Array

Architect
CambridgeSeven