The Gwinnett County Public Library’s Hamilton Mill branch has been honored for its environmentally friendly design.

The Georgia chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council recently gave the branch an Honorable Mention for Excellence in Sustainability award. The group cited the library’s “commitment to holistic sustainability and the value of return on investing in a public project during times of economic hardship.”

The $7.4 million branch, which opened last May, includes features that conserve energy, water and natural resources. For example, it has high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment to reduce energy use.

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Ceudy Gutierrez reads a book to her 2-year-old son, Matias, at their home in Buford, GA, on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. Ceudy Gutierrez is struggling to make ends meet for herself and her three young kids following her husband’s ICE arrest earlier this fall. (Miguel Martinez/ AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez