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Vancouver Community Library
Vancouver Community Library
Vancouver, WA, United States
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Other Projects by The Miller Hull Partnership
Vancouver Community Library
Vancouver, WA, United States
Type
YEAR
2011
SIZE
25,000 sqft - 100,000 sqft
A “drawer full of knowledge” metaphorically describes the design concept. A 200 foot long, four-story atrium is the open drawer, exposing the library’s contents and encouraging exploration. Wayfinding to the collection is integrated into an ad¬venturous stair and graphic “knowledge wall”,immersing patrons in the experience of using and navigating the building.
The building diagram is a clear expression of active and passive functions. As you pass from the atrium into the collection, the building becomes an orderly, stream¬lined display of books and technology, perfectly daylit from a continuous north facing curtainwall of high-performance glass. The “heavier” program areas (collection, technology, meeting spaces) are constructed in concrete and clad with terracotta rainscreen to reflect the civic nature of the building and the neighboring historic masonry structures. The “lighter” atrium, as an informal gathering space and place to circulate through the building, is built out of steel and clad in glass.
Moved from a suburban site to the commercial core of the state’s fourth largest city, the building fronts a busy commercial intersection and highlights the collection of books and services by displaying them along the tree lined main traffic corridor connecting the downtown to the historic reserve. The atrium and roof terrace faces a master planned civic plaza, in the future wrapped with a medium rise mixed use development. The open drawer will be a beacon to the active courtyard, connect¬ing the public resource to the life of this rapidly growing city.
The glazing system was optimized to balance daylight, views (in to and out of the building), and performance. Four types of glass were customized based on solar orientation and programmatic needs. Shading was optimized with deep overhangs, ceramic frit, stainless steel mesh, and terracotta louvers. More critically, though, is a focus on building an inherently adaptable structure that anticipates the changing role of the public library. A structural system with large, open floor areas and a raised access floor system allow for easily rearranged spaces and future flexibility.
The building diagram is a clear expression of active and passive functions. As you pass from the atrium into the collection, the building becomes an orderly, stream¬lined display of books and technology, perfectly daylit from a continuous north facing curtainwall of high-performance glass. The “heavier” program areas (collection, technology, meeting spaces) are constructed in concrete and clad with terracotta rainscreen to reflect the civic nature of the building and the neighboring historic masonry structures. The “lighter” atrium, as an informal gathering space and place to circulate through the building, is built out of steel and clad in glass.
Moved from a suburban site to the commercial core of the state’s fourth largest city, the building fronts a busy commercial intersection and highlights the collection of books and services by displaying them along the tree lined main traffic corridor connecting the downtown to the historic reserve. The atrium and roof terrace faces a master planned civic plaza, in the future wrapped with a medium rise mixed use development. The open drawer will be a beacon to the active courtyard, connect¬ing the public resource to the life of this rapidly growing city.
The glazing system was optimized to balance daylight, views (in to and out of the building), and performance. Four types of glass were customized based on solar orientation and programmatic needs. Shading was optimized with deep overhangs, ceramic frit, stainless steel mesh, and terracotta louvers. More critically, though, is a focus on building an inherently adaptable structure that anticipates the changing role of the public library. A structural system with large, open floor areas and a raised access floor system allow for easily rearranged spaces and future flexibility.
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