This branch library is situated in the city center but at an urban edge between commercial activities and a residential neighborhood. It needs to convey a public and civic front to the street while relating to the residential community adjacent to it. This 8000 square foot branch library accommodates adult, teen, and children’s reading areas, a meeting hall, and other auxiliary activities.

Working in collaboration with Group 4 Architecture and Planning, we held meetings with all the constituent groups — the librarian and staff, neighborhood groups, and city officials — to develop a library that provides a place to read and borrow books and that serves as a community center to meet friends, do homework, and hear a story.

The children and young adult reading areas are on the garden (residential) side, circling the garden courtyard. Adult reading alcoves are on the street side. The community meeting room faces the entry plaza, providing direct access to the hall when the library is closed.

The building section opens in two directions — to the street and the garden — providing diffuse daylighting as the primary source of illumination for the library.

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