National Library

The 16-storey building strives to be a modern knowledge hub that will meet the information and research needs of scholars, professionals, researchers and students in Singapore and the region. It houses the National Library Singapore, including the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library from levels 7 to 13 for library users to do their reference and research. In its basement is the Central Public Library that provides patrons with a wide selection of lending materials including a large fiction collection. The building also has tenants like the Drama Centre, a purpose-built performing arts space, owned and managed by the National Arts Council. The Corporate Office of NLB is located on the 14th level.

The National Library Building is also an innovative ‘green’ building designed as a “Library for the Tropics” using bioclimatic design techniques. Internationally recognized as an architectural icon and designed as a ‘green’ library building, its deployment of various innovative ‘green’ features keeps the building operating in an energy-efficient way and does its part for a more sustainable environment. For the considerable ‘green’ outcomes achieved, the National Library Building has won several awards in recognition of its energy-efficient features, including the First Prize in the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Award under the ‘New and Existing Building’ category in August 2007.