Library Buildings around the World

is most clearly expressed within this zone. It is defined architecturally by the rake of the auditorium as it vaults over the first floor
Adult Fiction collections and 2nd floor “bridge” links within the Service Core. The zone was designed with clear sight lines and open
vertical circulation to allow users to readily navigate their way to various destinations.
A café and coffee shop is nestled in the core enticing visitors to gather, linger and engage with each other. Off the café is the Young
Adult Area where rooms for gaming, study, and group work open to an active collection space. The Children’s Collection occupies
the east portion of the first floor. The second floor consists of the Adult Non-Fiction collections, a large dividable conference space,
and staff and administrative offices. The third floor consists of a break-out lobby for the Auditorium and public access to the green
roof.
The 24,000 sf green roof provides an attractive space for library patrons to gather while offering yet another set of views and visual
access to the surrounding cityscape. Functionally, the roof will aid in waste water management while serving as an outdoor plaza to
be used by individual visitors and for library-hosted and private events. Importantly, this space is the first publically-accessible
green roof in Cedar Rapids.
A Sustainable Solution
The new library represents a tremendous investment of resources. It was essential that the design be flexible to accommodate the
future needs of the community. One method of “future proofing” was the integration of raised access floors as part of the design.
These raised floors will allow for the distribution of power, data, and low velocity supply air permitting the collection spaces to
evolve over time. The collection spaces were intentionally designed to be very open; they incorporate few walls and a clear span
between the columns to allow for the full utilization of the available square footage. Dedicated mechanical spaces and “core
functions” are located on the west side of the site in an area that fronts a rail line and parking garage. The southern portion of the
site is surface parking, which could be utilized as space for future expansion. In addition to the green roof, the building was designed
to achieve LEED Platinum status and is on-track to do so. Energy and cost-saving features were integrated into the building design
and the roof itself will offer conservation-based educational opportunities for visitors.
“Green” Features:
•Targeting LEED Platinum Certification
•Designed to exceed the Iowa Energy Code by 55%
•Pump & Re-inject Geothermal HVAC System
•Pre-flood Library used energy at a rate of 100 kbtu/square foot
•New Library designed to use energy at a rate of 37 ktbu/square foot
•Exterior Glazing covers approximately 37% of the building envelope
•Thermally broken aluminum framing
•1” insulating glass has low-E coating and is argon filled
•Exterior Envelope: R-28, maximized thermal performance
•Daylight Harvesting: (Daylight sensors, dimmable ballasts, and T5/LED Lights
•Use of Natural Light: (15 solatubes and large clerestory on roof)
•Storm Water Management: Retain 90% of normal annual rainfall and 100% of all rainfall up to 1” in a 24 hour period on site.
•24,000 SF accessible green roof with rainwater harvesting for irrigation
•Pervious paving with storm water collection chambers below parking lot (OPN)
Williamsburg Public Library, Williamsburg IA – USA 2011
Sqf. 17.825, $ 2.700.000
The new Williamsburg Public Library is sited on the northwest corner of the town’s main square. It engages the square with an
entry plaza on the southeast corner of the site and utilizes a clock tower to signal both the entry as well as give the library it’s civic
presence. The exterior material palette is composed mainly of brick with stone accents which relates to the traditional character of
the buildings on the square but has a metal standing seam roof and metal skinned window bays to hint at the contemporary nature
of the functions within.
The upper level contains 12,400 sf and features the reading areas, book collections, children, young adults and computer area as well
as three different sized study and meeting rooms. The main entry, public bathrooms, staff offices and workspace encompass the
remainder of this level. The lower level contains the multi-purpose room(s), a meeting room and staff lounge. It also includes public
bathrooms for this level, mechanical spaces and has an ADA entrance serviced by an elevator.
The interior has an articulated vaulted ceiling over the stacks and reading areas along the North and South bays. It has a high ceiling
with a slot for the skylights over the central bay. It has an undulating curved ceiling plane over the Youth Area. The casework at the
main and children circulation desk has a slated wood motif to recall the areas agrarian history. The cherry wood interior woodwork
and gas fired fireplace gives a warm comfortable feel to a contemporary library space.
The library targeted LEED Silver certification and was awarded LEED Gold. (OPN)
Carnegie Stout Public Library, Dubuque IA –USA 2010
Sqf. 54,957, Budget4,730,176, Market Historic Restoration Library, LEEDLEED Silver
Awards:
2011 Merit Award – American Institute of Architects – Iowa Chapter
2011 Silver Award – International Interior Design Association – Great Plains Chapter
The renovation and restoration of Dubuque’s historic Carnegie library was a tremendous challenge. The 50,000 sf building consisted
of the original Carnegie structure constructed in 1901 and a 1984 addition that, while dramatically increasing the size of the library,
effectively created two separate halves, each with its own architectural style and personality, and with very little connection between
the two. The 1984 addition also housed the majority of the public spaces, limiting the community’s opportunities to experience the
historic portion of the building. The design team was challenged to unify these two disparate halves as a part of a building-wide
reorganization and remodel, while reclaiming the historic, original portion of the building for public use. Rather than a strict
historic restoration, which would limit the building’s functionality, the renovation honors the historic nature of the building,
restoring certain key components, while re-purposing others for modern use.
To embrace the historic aspects of the original building, the team focused on a number of design goals:
•Opening the grand main entrance;
•Opening the historic mezzanine and skylight above;
•Renovating a community meeting room on the upper level while opening the skylight in that room;
•Reopening the exterior windows on the lower level, and relocating significant parts of the collection to the historic building.
Perhaps the most dramatic impact created by the new design is the experience of entering through the reopened historic main
entrance. Since the 1984 addition, the mezzanine had been off-limits, the skylight was covered, a wall blocked views to the exterior
windows, and the historic entry doors were locked. Today patrons stepping through the main entrance are greeted by an axial view
through the historic lobby to the reinvented mezzanine seating area. The seating area is flooded with natural light from the skylights
above and the dramatic windows on the back of the building.
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