Project Details
- Project Name
- Louisville Free Public Library South Central Regional Branch
- Location
-
7300 Jefferson Boulevard
KY
- Architect
- MSR Design
- Client/Owner
- Louisville Free Public Library
- Project Scope
- New Construction
- Size
- 38,191 sq. feet
- Year Completed
- 2017
- Shared by
- Miabelle Salzano
- Team
-
JRA Architects, Architect
MSR Design, Architect
- Consultants
-
Landscape Architect: MKSK,Civil Engineer: BTM Engineering,Structural Engineer: Tetra Tech,Consulting Engineer: Kerr Greulich,Construction Manager: Sullivan Cozart
- Certifications & Designations
- LEED Gold
- Project Status
- Built
- Cost
- $12,196,691
- Room or Space
-
Entryway ,Specialty Room
- Style
- Modern
This project has been updated since its recent 2019 AIA/ALA Library Building Award win.
Project Description
[updated description]
FROM THE ARCHITECTS:
The new South Central Regional Library brings service to a previously underserved area of Louisville. The facility provides 100,000 nearby residents with an accessible, inviting, and healthy place to access, enjoy, and participate in information sharing.
The structure is built within the last remnants of a once vast urban forest. All project design decisions were made to celebrate and protect the character and quantity of the existing trees. Over one third of the site was left completely untouched, allowing visitors to have an intimate view into the undisturbed forest. A bosque of existing mature trees was left in the midst of the parking area to shade the pavement and building, as well as create a unique public gathering space dappled with sunlight filtering through the old growth tree canopy. Specimen trees lost during construction were milled into lumber that is featured throughout the new building, while site utilities were carefully routed through existing clearings to avoid damaging delicate roots.
The library is a vessel for daylight that aspires to dissolve into the surrounding forest. The stainless steel clad street facing facades literally reflect the building’s surroundings, while the dark stucco clad forest facades fade into the surrounding tree shadows. Surfaces are folded and warped to introduce dynamic reflections and light gradients, as well as to define programmatic functions both inside and out. Color is deployed to highlight featured destinations, while lighting is playfully deployed to occupy the overhead building volume.
A column free interior space enables ultimate flexibility for short-term adjustments and adaptability for long-term changes. A pressurized access floor plenum maintains greater occupant comfort with less robust equipment which, when partnered with daylight responsive LED lighting, exceeds the AIA 2030 challenge with systems that are 70% better than a typical public library. The site design minimizes tree disturbance and manages storm water run-off through a parking lot integrated detention reservoir and green roof.
Delivering a superior staff and patron experience drove every programmatic decision - the resulting spaces give users choice and flexibility throughout the day. The library system’s first maker space known as the “Collider” houses an artist-in-residence program and hands-on activities that bring information and application together.
[previous description]
FROM THE ARCHITECTS:
Built within the last remnants of a once vast urban forest, this library provides over 100,000 nearby residents with an accessible, inviting, and healthy place to engage with a dynamic collection of hands on learning opportunities. Design decisions were made to celebrate and protect the character and quantity of the existing trees. Over one third of the site was left completely untouched, allowing visitors to have an intimate view into the undisturbed forest. Preserved trees in the midst of the parking area shade the pavement and building, as well as create a unique public gathering space beneath their canopy. Specimen trees lost during construction were milled into lumber that is featured throughout the facility. The library is a vessel for daylight that aspires to dissolve into the surrounding forest. The stainless steel clad, street facing facades literally reflect the building’s surroundings, while the dark stucco clad forest facades fade into the tree shadows. Surfaces are folded and warped to introduce dynamic reflections and light gradients, as well as to define programmatic functions both inside and out. Color is deployed to highlight featured destinations, while lighting is playfully deployed to occupy the overhead building volume. Most importantly, the facility’s intuitive wayfinding leads visitors through the building to a variety of reading and activity areas that celebrate the unique context, yet are rapidly adaptable as library services continue to evolve.