Through extensive community input, a bond referendum was passed to expand and renovate the existing downtown library in Lawrence, Kansas. In addition to the expansion, a new structured parking facility and an outdoor community plaza was constructed.
The expansion and renovation design of this library responds to the adjacent historic district requirements, creating a new civic image and enhancing the adjacent urban, pedestrian-oriented fabric.
The perimeter of the completed facility is filled with social and reading spaces, computer and study alcoves, children and youth spaces, and display. The center remains populated with densely filled shelving areas, additional seating, and support spaces. Because of this organizational concept, daylight is focused on occupied spaces and allows the light to permeate the facility. The open, flexible layout is critical to the long-term growth and change anticipated in the library environment.
The new perimeter wall system modulates and distributes daylight while reducing overall energy usage of the facility by half (even with the expansion of the square footage by one-third). Existing, recently replaced HVAC equipment was retained and the energy savings was achieved by careful design and placement of the new addition, utilizing daylight harvesting and a highly insulated exterior envelope.
*work prior to forming clark | huesemann
Awards:
– LEED Gold
– AIA Kansas City, Professional’s Choice Award, 2016
– AIA Kansas City, Merit Award, 2016
– AIA Central States, Citation Award, 2016
– Chicago Athenaeum, American Architecture Award, 2016
– AIA/ALA, Library Building Awards, 2016
– Library Journal, Landmark Libraries Award, 2015
– AIA Kansas, Honor Award for Excellence in Architecture, 2015
