Library Buildings around the World

When a new foundation dedicated to advancing the greater good of the community wanted to make a monumental statement, it
chose Craig Gaulden Davis to create the city’s first civic structure in more than thirty years: a public library, classically designed,
that would serve as a catalyst for future growth and progress. To quantify the importance they placed upon this vision, the
foundation insisted that the library be made 8,000 square feet larger than the State Library’s formula’s recommendations, which are
based on population size. The Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation Library in Florence, South Carolina, has lived up to – and exceeded –
its mandate. This strong, timeless edifice has engaged the existing community, spurred revitalization of the downtown business
district, and boosted commercial investment, economic development, professional recruitment and educational achievement
throughout the Pee Dee region. Massive but exceptionally well-sited and proportioned, the library is clad in limestone, its grand
walkway leading to a portico with elegant hand-carved Corinthian and Ionic capitals. Lush grounds include a landscaped public
plaza and a great lawn, ideal for hosting concerts and other civic events. Organized around a central two-story atrium, the facility
features a bright, colorful children’s library that overlooks the great lawn, a bank of Internet-equipped public computers that are in
near-constant demand; a 48-computer classroom/training suite; a large South Carolina History Room with separate climate control
systems and a fireproof vault; and a variety of meeting rooms for individual study or research, team projects and training sessions.
To accommodate after-hours events, the Founder’s Room is equipped with a separate entrance that allows admittance from the
building’s exterior while also providing easy access to service facilities. With a functional fireplace, conference table, comfortable
seating areas and traditional furnishings, the Founders Room is the perfect setting for special events such as meetings, catered
affairs and book signings. To allow convenient access while preserving the structure’s dramatic street appeal, public parking is
located on either side of the facility rather than in front. An elevated plinth suits the building’s classical design while also concealing
a secret: a self-draining mechanical room that distributes air quietly and evenly without creating typical aesthetic issues associated
with air-handling equipment. Craig Gaulden Davis is passionate about creating libraries that showcase community ideals. Like the
Pee Dee region it serves, the Drs. Bruce and Lee Library has its own character and context, making it a treasured resource for all
generations. Program: Central Atrium/Circulation Area, Children's Area, Internet Area, Periodicals & New Book Collection,
Adult Fiction Collection, Adult Non Fiction Collection, Reference Collection, Reference Offices, South Carolina History Collection,
Private Study Rooms, Public Training Classroom, Administrative Offices & Work Areas, Public Meeting Room, and Founder's
Room Conference Suite (Craig)
Hughes Main Library, Greenville County Library, Greenville, SC – USA 2002
Area: 120,000 SF, Completion: Fall 2002, Cost: $17.8 Million, Associate Architect: MGA Partners, Client Website:
http://www.greenvillelibrary.org
Awards:
First Place Hospitality/Public Space Category 2006, StarNet
Merit Award 2004, AIA South Carolina
Honor Award 2004, Brick Association of the Carolinas
Honor Award 2003, AIA South Carolina
Honor Award 2003, AIA Greenville
When architect David Moore needed inspiration for the design of the Hughes Library, he needed only to look to the past. Recalling
the rich textile industry on which Greenville was founded, Moore, partner of Craig Gaulden & Davis, Inc (CGD) and project
architect designed a building that marries traditional architecture with modern design. To further evoke the past, Moore brought in
large oak trees around the exterior of the building. And the building was completed in 20 months, just in time to move the 440,000
items from the old Main Library to the new location. Utilizing a fast track, design build approach to accommodate Greenville
County's 20-month turnkey schedule, CGD in association with MGA partners out of Philadelphia, PA created a design that
accommodates the needs of the library system and the patrons. Craig, Gaulden & Davis are no strangers to library design, having
designed nearly 1.3 million square feet of library space throughout the Southeast including new main libraries for Anderson,
Lexington, Charleston and Florence counties in South Carolina. However, The Hughes Library is the first in the state to utilize a
design/build approach. This method teams the architect and contractor together to provide the owner a single source of
responsibility for the design and construction of the project. Greenville County Library System executive director, Beverly James
notes, "Because of our time constraints and the complexity of the project, it was essential to have experts in library design as well as
in construction leading our efforts." The library's exterior.Moore saw the new library as the main vehicle to extend the existing
Heritage Green campus. Greenville's downtown cultural arts campus, Heritage Green is also home to The Greenville Art Museum, a
600-seat community theater and the future site of a Children's Museum. The new library rests on an adjacent block—formerly the
site of a Coca-Cola bottling plant—that is surrounded by traditional red brick structures. "By utilizing colors from all the buildings
on the campus, the library becomes a transitional element that ties the entire campus together," says Moore. Founded in 1921, the
Greenville County Library has been a part of the Greenville Community for 81 years. Named the Hughes Library, through a
generous gift from Phil and Bob Hughes in honor of their parents, R.F. and Mary Hughes, the new facility has been described as a
"piece of fine art." Creating "this piece of fine art" was surely a collaborative effort. Moore called on the help of Brian Melson of
Buford Goff, Inc. and Carrie Welker of the Thompson Company in Atlanta when he began designing the lighting for the library.
Moore's goal was to incorporate as much natural daylight as possible. He also wanted the space to be well illuminated at night to
show the activity that occurs in the library—people talking, people reading books, people studying at the tables. Further, Moore
used linear, indirect fixtures in the library stacks to provide even lighting over the shelves. He also used lighting as a sculptural
element in the building. The children's wing is the focal point of the library and this area created a unique lighting design challenge.
Since the new addition was created to encourage children to read and to inspire their imaginations while encouraging family visits,
Moore and Melson used an innovative lighting design. The solution was both playful and functional. They selected a low-voltage,
cable lighting system manufactured by Translite-Sonoma. Brian Melson and David Jordan of The Schneider Company designed the
system utilizing crisp halogen accent lights. Animal-like spotlights, called "Byrdys" appear to walk across the horizontally
suspended cables. An assortment of five different colored; hand-blown glass downlights were also suspended from the cable system
to further inspire young imaginations. Undulating colored nylon ribbons were also suspended from the ceiling. Hughes Library has
been described as "a great vessel of learning and leisure opportunities awaiting the citizens of Greenville County." Architect David
Moore looked to the past and saw the future. (http://www.theschneidercompany.com)
CGD’s 3rd contribution to Heritage Green, Greenville’s downtown cultural campus, the 120,000 SF Hughes Main Library serves to
expand Heritage Green and promote further downtown development. Utilizing a design-build delivery system, Greenville County
required that the library be programmed, designed, constructed, and opened to the public in 20 months or less. As the lead architect
of the selected design-build team, CGD was responsible for programming, architectural design, interior design and coordination of
all architectural and engineering disciplines, including specialty lighting, library technology and building security design. In order to
meet this aggressive schedule, the Team utilized a “fast track” approach that required the early release of construction packages
during the design process to allow construction to commence before the entire library was designed and documented. (Graig)
Anderson County Main Library, Anderson, SC – USA 2000
Client: Anderson County Library System, Location: Anderson, South Carolina, Cost (2000): $10,100,000, Area: 96,000 square feet
on a 5-acre site, Program: Public meeting rooms, cafe, store, local history help desk and collection .
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