Construction Cost: $1,300,000
Completion Date: 2006.10

The first design concept centered on the idea that the main entry of the library would face east towards the location of a possible future park. The current structures occupying the site of the future park were undesirable and the county gave the direction to move the entry to the north side of the building, facing the primary local traffic artery.

A large feature wall was used to separate and organize the complex program within the facility. This element was pulled through the north and south facades of the building to create an entry plaza and a reading courtyard. This wall developed into a spine that would orient and guide patrons as well as house necessary functions such as a copy machine, catalog computers, storage rooms and a book drop.

Preliminary diagramming showed that the circulation desk needed to be central to most functions. In response to this, the first concept for the desk was as a floating object – engaging the feature wall and acting as a kiosk located just inside the entry. Due to staffing concerns, the desk was relocated to a more traditional position adjacent to the branch manager’s office. Through careful study of sight lines, the design team provided a final desk design that has visual access to all public areas of the program.

Materials were chosen so as to maximize the tight budget without looking cheap. Inexpensive brick was designed to have an eye-catching pattern that would highlight the main building signage while providing a unique tactile experience for users approaching the front door. Ordinary stucco on the entry feature was designed with a reveal pattern that carries through the building along the organizational spine, blurring the line between outside and in.