Ballyroan Library

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BALLYROAN PARISH CENTRE

Ballyroan Library

Firm

Box Architecture

Type

Commercial › Exhibition Center
Educational › Other
Government + Health ›

YEAR

2013

SIZE

100,000 sqft - 300,000 sqft

BUDGET

$1M - 5M

The
library was built in the 1980’s and served the community well over the past
decades. However the library became outdated, in need of upgrading and became
too small to deal with the collection of resources available to the community
for reference or borrowing. After much consideration the existing
building was demolished and rebuilt, doubling the size of the original library.
A complete rebuild was deemed quicker, less disruptive, economic and a better
environmentally sustainable solution.

The
new building is part single and part two storey, two new entrances are
provided, one to the north, accessed from Orchardstown Avenue, and one to the
south, accessed via Orchardstown Villas, giving access into a new double height
internal street. This new internal street will be used for large exhibitions,
book borrowing and returns, readings, gatherings and to allow unrestricted
access to information in a range formats, sources. The lower section
of the northern two storey element houses the main book and reading facilities
for adults and children. A timber lining denotes the public elements and snakes
in and out of these areas clearly defining public and private areas. The timber
elements, within the exhibition area in particular, can be opened and closed to
adapt to the user’s needs. A staff office is provided at ground floor for ease
of access and monitoring. Two seminar rooms can be divided into separate
entities of varying sizes allowing for flexibility but also allows for internet
access for either singular use or in a class arrangement to maximize computer
usage. Toilet facilities and other associated services elements are located in
this area.

On
the other side of the internal street a large reading room is accessed through
a series of concrete fins and a change in the ceiling heights denotes a quieter
area. The layout of furniture can be arranged to suit the demographics of the
users with loose furniture on casters positioned in varying layouts to suit
varying needs. The reading room is open plan, lit from above by means of roof
lights with more intimate reading areas off the main space in the form of oriel
windows - some singular and others larger overlooking the adjoining context,
these can be used as places to study, sit or read. A children’s area is located
to the south of the ground floor with children’s furniture, books and computers
as well as a storytelling area, this space can be closed off completely if
required. The entire building is Wi-Fi enabled and study areas are spread
throughout the main reading room.

Access
to the first floor is by a public staircase or by lift. Upstairs is a ‘Memory
Room’ holding heritage and local studies resources, which will serve as a
research space for all. The main staff facilities and book storage are located
on this level. The car park to the south was remodeled to become a shared
surface. This area with planted trees and benches, allows one to sit and read.
The area between the road and the oriel windows is landscaped to provide a
buffer zone between the building and road.
The new Library is provides a rich spatial experience to users from all
parts of the local community, broadening the scope of the library beyond the
provision of book lending to that of a community learning and information
resource suitable for the 21st century citizen.

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Ballyroan Library

Other Projects by Box Architecture

BALLYROAN PARISH CENTRE

Ballyroan Library

Product Spec Sheet

Collaborating Firms

Team