Library Buildings around the World

Wendell Burnette Architects, Phoenix, AZ – USA
http://wendellburnettearchitects.com
Libraries:
Scottsdale Civic Center Library Teen Center, Scottsdale, AZ – USA 2006
The Scottsdale Civic Center Library Teen Center opened to enthusiastic teens in February of 2006. It is the result of a direct
interactive public process with the teen community of Scottsdale, a historically overlooked segment of library patrons. Participants
for instance, were asked to imagine the finished space, to list their favorite qualities of their respective imagined spaces and to
photograph their favorite spaces. Following the structural lines of the existing building the overarching concept to unify the new teen
space, “KNOWASIS”, became a segmented sky, informed by the various images brought back by the teens. Respectful of the
original 1968 building by local legend Benny Gonzalez, the installation transformed the existing space into an appealing hangout for
teens, while functionally solving the issues of lighting and acoustics. (Wendell)
Palo Verde Library / Maryvale Community Center Show/Hide, Phoenix, AZ – USA 2006
with Gould Evans Associates
Awards:
2007 National AIA Honor Award
2009 ALA / AIA Award of Excellence
The City of Phoenix proposed to re-invigorate the heart of Maryvale [the Western version of Levittown, NY] with a new Library /
Community Center inside its original 14-acre Park. The Urban Design approach first brokered key parking variances to preserve
the large ball field and other recreational amenities, insuring Maryvale Park would remain the “green heart” of this 54-year-old
community. Additionally, the new Library / Community Center aligned with the existing pool such that all civic programs would
front 51st Avenue, a major North / South arterial. Parking lots were separated and fully shaded by native Palo Verde trees to
reinforce the park setting and diminish the urban heat island effect. Lastly, a small corner of the old park was preserved as a
contemplative buffer for the Library and as a window into this historic site. (Wendell)
Phoenix Central Library, Phoenix, AZ – USA 1995
with bruderDWL architects prior to forming W with Gould Evans Associates BA,
Wendell Burnette’s eleven-year association (1985-1996) with the studio of William Bruder culminated in a six-year design
collaboration on the landmark 28 million dollar Burton Barr Phoenix Central Library as co-designer, project architect and field
architect. The library is conceived as a Mesa Landform, an abstraction of the mythical southwest landscape housing a one million
volume collection within its 280,000 square feet. The “top of the Mesa” is a given over to the citizens of the city as the largest reading
room in North America. It is widely cited as an early touchstone of “green” environmental design before LEED was established by
the U.S. Green Building Council and this was recently confirmed with a LEED – EB (Existing Building) Silver 2.0 rating in 2011.
LEED – EB (Existing Building) 2.0 Silver. (Wendell)
wHY Architecture, Culver City, TX – USA
http://www.why-architecture.com
Libraries:
Tyler Museum of Art, Tyler, TX – USA 2007 - 2012
Established in 1952, the Tyler Museum of Art moved into its present home, a 15,000 square foot building adjacent to Tyler Junior
College, in 1971. As part of their continuing mission to enliven the cultural landscape of East Texas, the new TMA will be situated
adjacent to the University of Texas at Tyler on a densely wooded site bisected by a flood plain. Meant to be both iconic and
respectful of its unique surroundings, the first phase of construction will more than double the existing facility's square footage and
contain 6,000 square feet of gallery space to attract traveling exhibitions and continue in its tradition of highlighting up-and-coming
Texas artists. The new facility will also house 3,000 square feet of educational programming, including classrooms, a library and
children's gallery. Upon completion of future phases TMA will house over 15,000 square feet of gallery space and more than triple
the existing facility's square footage. (wHY)
Grand Rapids Arts Museum, Grand Rapids, MI – 2004 - 2007
Timeline: Design 2004-2005, Construction 2004-2007, 125,000 sq. ft.
In Grand Rapids im US-Bundesstaat Michigan eröffnete der Neubau des Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) im Oktober 2007
seine Pforten. Entworfen wurde das Museum von dem kalifornischen Architekten Kulapat Yantrasast (wHY Architecture), einem
ehemaligen Büropartner von Tadao Ando. Das GRAM ist eines der ältesten Kunstmuseen im Mittleren Westen der USA und für
seine Sammlung amerikanischer und europäischer Malerei und Skulpturen des 19. und 20. Jahrhunderts bekannt. Der 75 Millionen
teure modernistische Neubau aus Sichtbeton und Glas, der ein wenig den Anschein erweckt, als wolle er Tadao Ando in das Land
Louis I. Kahns importieren, befindet sich inmitten eines aufstrebenden Stadtviertels in Grand Rapids in direkter Nachbarschaft des
Skulpturenparks der Architektin Maya Lin. Das neue Museum mit seiner Grundfläche von 1.200 Quadratmetern bietet nun für
temporäre und Dauerausstellungen dreimal so viel Fläche wie das alte Gebäude. Neben den Ausstellungsräumen bietet das neue
GRAM außerdem ein Auditorium mit 285 Sitzplätzen, ein pädagogisches Zentrum, eine Bibliothek, ein Café, einen Museumsshop
sowie Studienräume. (http://www.baunetz.de)
The Grand Rapids Art Museum in Michigan is home to one of the oldest museums in the Mid-West. The new museum is designed
through the integration of the arts and technology, and with a mission in obtaining a high-level certification from the Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), thus making it one of the first art museums with such recognition. The Grand Rapids
Art Museum features a unique design that compliments its prominent location with a grandeur urban gesture while offering an
intimate atmosphere to enjoy the arts. (wHY)
Wiedersum Associates Architects, Hauppauge, NY – USA
http://www.wiedersum.com
Libraries:
Hicksville Public Library, Computer Center, Hicksville, NY – USA 2006
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