What was once an abandoned T.J. Maxx store in a shopping center is now a vibrant, inviting public library. The Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library (CHPL) has transformed the ghost store into the new Deer Park Library, designed by GBBN.
The formerly drab exterior now has a striking blue color and aluminum tubes on the facade, making the library clearly visible from the street. Large new windows in the facade and roof bring daylight into the once-dark retail store, while curved interior walls break up the space.
Five times larger than its previous space, the new 25,000-sf Deer Park Library has been organized around a central zone called The Marketplace. This open, flexible area has been designed to encourage mingling, lounging, and discovery. From the Marketplace, visitors can view all the library’s offerings, including computer workstations and study pods.
GBBN used the store’s large floor plate to create distinct zones for different age groups and activities. The zones have been denoted with mobile furniture and acoustically private yet transparent study pods, and include quiet spaces, a community meeting room, and space for messy creativity. The flexible space can be reconfigured and allows different activities to happen at the same time.
The kid zone invites children to spend time there with bright pops of color and a mix of soft and hard furniture. Custom-designed acoustic ceiling baffles both provide visual interest and dampen sound.
“The community let us know we needed a modern, expanded library, a place to connect, create, and collaborate, and we are truly pleased with how this renovation and expansion turned out,” Diane Cunningham Redden, CHPL board of trustees president, said in a statement.
One sign of the project’s success: The library had to invest in an additional computer terminal to handle the volume of checkouts.
On the Building Team:
Client: Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library
Architecture and design: GBBN
Civil engineer: Bayer Becker
Structural engineer: Schaefer
MEP engineer: Motz Engineering
Technology: BCL Enterprise
Contractor: Perkins/Carmack
Related Stories
Libraries | Nov 30, 2020
Adjaye Associates reveals design of the Thabo Mbeki Presidential Library
The project is located in Johannesburg.
Libraries | Oct 22, 2020
Envisioning libraries as community hubs
In the following, HGA Vice President and Senior Designer Jane Dedering discusses her passion for libraries, community engagement, and how the current pandemic will influence libraries moving forward.
Libraries | Oct 21, 2020
Hôtel particulier built in 1642 becomes a media library and park
The project is located in Pélissanne.
Libraries | Sep 25, 2020
Major renovation to Providence’s downtown library is completed
The $29 million project adds light and collaborative space to a 67-year-old wing.
Libraries | Sep 22, 2020
Snøhetta wins design for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library
The project is located in Medora, N.D.
Libraries | Sep 18, 2020
Four projects receive 2020 AIA/ALA Library Building Award
2020 AIA/ALA Library Building Award recipients must demonstrate design achievement, including a sense of place, purpose, ecology, environmental sustainability, and of history.
Libraries | Sep 15, 2020
Campus libraries are leaping into the future
The world of information and student populations are constantly evolving. Academic libraries can lead the way as campuses strive to stay ahead.
Giants 400 | Aug 28, 2020
2020 Giants 400 Report: Ranking the nation's largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms
The 2020 Giants 400 Report features more than 130 rankings across 25 building sectors and specialty categories.
Libraries | May 12, 2020
Designing resilient libraries for a post-covid world
As architects, it has been especially interesting to see how public libraries have deployed their physical resources and spaces to continue serving their communities despite these closures.
Libraries | Feb 4, 2020
Design of the Ottawa Public Library and Library and Archives unveiled
Diamond Schmitt Architects is designing the project.
