New
Staff Area
When it comes to the design of a building
addition, we feel believe that it is about bettering the space while trying to
preserve and conserve both the existing building and budget. The goal of our
library design is to create a new space without actually adding much square
footage to the overall plan. To do so we chose to relocate the staff area from
the southwestern side of the library to the elongated rectangular area on the
northwestern side of the library. This simple relocation, along with efficient
space design and layout, resulted in the gaining of square footage in every
staff allotted area. With this relocation every restroom will remain untouched
aside from any updates if necessary, and the new staff kitchen will already
have preexisting plumbing from the former kitchenette. Vast amounts of storage
and workspace have been created along with a transitional kitchen between the
staff lounge and meeting room. The new circulation desk will be located along
the axis of the barrel vault and can then have view of the new northeastern
side and existing southwestern side entrances. The two entrances will allow for
both existing parking lots to be utilized along with accommodating to larger
traffic numbers during the summer.
Children’s
Area
At the youngest of ages are when we are
influences the most by our surroundings and experiences. This is why we are
placing a large emphasis on the children’s area of the library. We want the
space to be a place where children want to go after school or during the summer
to read and participate in learning activities. Therefore we are placing a
circular children’s area where the former staff areas were located along the
southwestern side and southern corner. We chose to incorporate a perfect circle
that creates a strong language against the existing architecture in order to
place the emphasis on children. This relocation of the children’s space
provided the children’s area with a private single-load bathroom that the
children could utilize within the space and not have to travel through the
library next to the point of exit. The children’s area is now visible from the
parking lot and creates a fun and inviting entrance experience. The children’s
area is equipped with stacks forming the perimeter of the room, craft storage
and work areas, a kitchenette stocked for snack time, as well as a theater for
movies and puppet shows.
Quiet
Space
Libraries are a space to read, learn, and
gather. Groups meet here to work on projects because of the endless resources
and quiet space at hand. Therefore we chose to place the quiet space in the
eastern corner of the building for it would provide the furthest distance with
the most noise reduction from the children’s area. The quiet space contains the
largest amount of square footage that we are adding to the existing form.
Within the space are study rooms, lounge areas, work desks, and computer desks.
The quiet space is located in such a way to appear as a separate structure that
is serene in nature by having a breezeway and outdoor plaza surrounding it. The
idea behind this is to create a peaceful space equipped for reading and
studying that feels as if you are outdoors.
Outdoor
Plaza
The idea behind the outdoor plaza is to
create a multifunctional space for the community to enjoy. It allows the
library to have the capability to host events and shows without limited space.
The plaza contains a breezeway, reading garden, and an outdoor performance
area. All of the components are equipped to be able to host activities such as
art events, book fairs, author signings, poetry reading, and children’s
reenactments of their favorite books. The breezeway is made up of multiple
rotating shutter doors. The shutters allow for breezes and sunlight to
penetrate while maintaining a shading device for the vast amounts of glass
along the southeastern side of the building. By designing for the doors to
rotate one hundred and eighty degrees, the doors can be flush and locked with
one another for security purposes or rotated to any degree to allow for an open
atmosphere while continuing to shade any angle at which the sun is located. The
rotation of the shutter doors play in serving activities held outdoors by
creating built in display pieces to hang local artwork, children’s crafts, etc.
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