Add To Collection
Add to Collection
Jack Russell Memorial Library
Jack Russell Memorial Library
Hartford, WI, United States
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
Other Projects by Plunkett Raysich Architects
Jack Russell Memorial Library
Hartford, WI, United States
Type
STATUS
Built
YEAR
2011
SIZE
25,000 sqft - 100,000 sqft
BUDGET
$5M - 10M
Nestled within the tranquil surroundings of a mill pond site in downtown Hartford, WI, the Jack Russell Memorial Library stands as a testament to a collaborative effort between the library and its design team. Together, they've crafted a community hub tailored to the evolving needs of a growing small-town population. Thoughtful design choices marry modern aesthetics with a nod to the site's history and the town's industrial legacy, ensuring a seamless blend of past and present at the heart of the community.
The architectural design of the building was deeply inspired by the mill pond site on which the library sits. Drawing from the vernacular architecture of millponds, the structure exemplifies a variety of diverse forms and rooflines. Moreover, the layout was crafted considering daylighting techniques, evident in the expansive glass entry on the east and south sides. This design choice floods the entry lobby with natural light, fostering a welcoming and uplifting atmosphere. Complementing this, a clerestory window along the north side of the east-west-oriented building ensures gentle, glare-free lighting throughout the stacks and reading areas, aligning perfectly with the tranquil ambiance expected in a library setting.
When entering the expansive two-story lobby, the atmosphere is immediately set by the exposed wood columns and decking, evoking the ambiance of turn-of-the-century industrial architecture. Modernity meets tradition with the addition of pendant lighting clad in copper leaf, subtly paying homage to the nearby mill pond park. This warm and inviting aesthetic carries through the building, with rich wood tones adorning custom casework, shelving end panels, and signage, creating a cohesive and welcoming environment.
The library's interior spaces were designed to cater to the diverse needs of it’s visitors and to facilitate a range of programs. Notable examples of this thoughtful planning include a spacious Community Room equipped with adaptable furnishings, allowing for seamless transitions between lecture-style setups and classroom arrangements. Additionally, a cozy group reading room offers a space for smaller meetings. The History Exploratorium includes custom-built storage and display units, along with ample worktables to accommodate researchers. A dedicated story time room, featuring a sliding door and charming "boxcar" entry, serves as a vibrant space for group storytelling and engaging craft activities in the children's section. In the young adult area, task seating and lounge chairs are conveniently set on casters, facilitating easy movement and reconfiguration. Furthermore, the inclusion of a patio and two terraces, furnished with all-weather lounge and café seating, provides inviting outdoor spaces for patrons to enjoy the picturesque mill pond view and gather outside.
The library's design places a strong emphasis on sustainability, evident throughout its layout. A green roof graces the administration area, not only adding visual appeal but also enhancing stormwater management. Beneath a section of the parking lot, water retention systems ensure a gradual release of water. Alongside the previously mentioned daylighting strategies, borrowed lights and reflective white surfaces atop tall book stacks channel natural light deep into the interior. Renewable and durable materials have been meticulously chosen for flooring and workstations. To bolster energy efficiency, the building envelope features insulation on the exterior of metal stud walls, minimizing thermal bridging. Moreover, the library boasts an innovative mechanical system utilizing heating and cooling thermal storage, alongside radiant heating and cooling terminal systems, ensuring an exceptionally high level of energy efficiency.
The Jack Russell Memorial Library was designed as a community destination reflective of its environment with unique, multi-functional spaces and a high level of energy efficiency and sustainable materials. Since its construction, the library has met the needs of the Harford community and will continue to well into the future.
The architectural design of the building was deeply inspired by the mill pond site on which the library sits. Drawing from the vernacular architecture of millponds, the structure exemplifies a variety of diverse forms and rooflines. Moreover, the layout was crafted considering daylighting techniques, evident in the expansive glass entry on the east and south sides. This design choice floods the entry lobby with natural light, fostering a welcoming and uplifting atmosphere. Complementing this, a clerestory window along the north side of the east-west-oriented building ensures gentle, glare-free lighting throughout the stacks and reading areas, aligning perfectly with the tranquil ambiance expected in a library setting.
When entering the expansive two-story lobby, the atmosphere is immediately set by the exposed wood columns and decking, evoking the ambiance of turn-of-the-century industrial architecture. Modernity meets tradition with the addition of pendant lighting clad in copper leaf, subtly paying homage to the nearby mill pond park. This warm and inviting aesthetic carries through the building, with rich wood tones adorning custom casework, shelving end panels, and signage, creating a cohesive and welcoming environment.
The library's interior spaces were designed to cater to the diverse needs of it’s visitors and to facilitate a range of programs. Notable examples of this thoughtful planning include a spacious Community Room equipped with adaptable furnishings, allowing for seamless transitions between lecture-style setups and classroom arrangements. Additionally, a cozy group reading room offers a space for smaller meetings. The History Exploratorium includes custom-built storage and display units, along with ample worktables to accommodate researchers. A dedicated story time room, featuring a sliding door and charming "boxcar" entry, serves as a vibrant space for group storytelling and engaging craft activities in the children's section. In the young adult area, task seating and lounge chairs are conveniently set on casters, facilitating easy movement and reconfiguration. Furthermore, the inclusion of a patio and two terraces, furnished with all-weather lounge and café seating, provides inviting outdoor spaces for patrons to enjoy the picturesque mill pond view and gather outside.
The library's design places a strong emphasis on sustainability, evident throughout its layout. A green roof graces the administration area, not only adding visual appeal but also enhancing stormwater management. Beneath a section of the parking lot, water retention systems ensure a gradual release of water. Alongside the previously mentioned daylighting strategies, borrowed lights and reflective white surfaces atop tall book stacks channel natural light deep into the interior. Renewable and durable materials have been meticulously chosen for flooring and workstations. To bolster energy efficiency, the building envelope features insulation on the exterior of metal stud walls, minimizing thermal bridging. Moreover, the library boasts an innovative mechanical system utilizing heating and cooling thermal storage, alongside radiant heating and cooling terminal systems, ensuring an exceptionally high level of energy efficiency.
The Jack Russell Memorial Library was designed as a community destination reflective of its environment with unique, multi-functional spaces and a high level of energy efficiency and sustainable materials. Since its construction, the library has met the needs of the Harford community and will continue to well into the future.
Product Spec Sheet
Were your products used?
Join as a manufacturer to add your products.