Louisville Free Public Library Northeast Regional Public Library

{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[],"markups":[],"sections":[[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"This project is the final of three regional libraries to be updated\nthrough an ambitious, decade-long master planning and revitalization effort by the\nLouisville Free Public Library system. Situated on a once-neglected green space\nassociated with the historic Italianate-style Bellevoir Mansion, the new\nlibrary replaces a much smaller and outdated facility and has transformed the\nsite into a new park centered on lifelong learning."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"A core goal for the new building is to honor its historically\nmeaningful context. The team\u2019s design for the library respects the scale of the\nmansion, preserves nearly all of the mature trees on the site, and sensitively\nintegrates a series of extended walking paths for patrons, staff, and nearby\nbusinesses to utilize. The site, a convenient location for more than 120,000\nresidents, allows the library to offer both indoor and outdoor programming that\nsupports learning and wellness, and the team\u2019s design offers more program space\nwhile still maintaining material counts that adhere to community needs. With\nnearly 4,000 fewer gross square feet, it boasts more services than its peers in\nthe system. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"In designing the library as a pavilion, the team ensured it would\nprovide both daily and long-term flexibility. The clear span space and raised\naccess floor will allow for future changes to the collection, seating, and\ntechnology, and its open floor plan encourages internal boxes of space to\nfurther define its functions while promoting easy wayfinding. The library\u2019s\nthree makerspaces and health space form an active learning core that expands\noutward to covered outdoor patios and an internal community lounge. That core\nreads as a glass box within, and with the adjacent spaces can accommodate large\ncommunity-focused events."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Eschewing current trends, the library\u2019s collection is organized\nthrough slightly taller shelving that creates individual rooms in the adult,\njuvenile, and children\u2019s areas. The collection sits four feet lower than the\nsurrounding community program spaces to provide unobstructed visual connections\nto the surrounding park from the entry and community rooms. A gently sloping\n\u201criver\u201d of easily browsed new materials solidifies the connection between\ncommunity space and the collection, an approach that supports material density\nwhile still maintaining generous views. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"By beginning the process with daylight and energy modeling, the team\nshaped a fully daylit interior experience. Its column-free interior and\nclimate-responsive lighting empower the library to react to short-term weather\nvariations and seasonal changes while also positioning the library for future\nchanges. Through walking, connections with nature, and opportunities for\ndiscovery, the library encourages patrons to engage with its sustainable\nfeatures through a wide range of learning styles. "]]]]}