HORIZONTV FEATURING BD+C: WATCH EPISODES ON DEMAND AT HORIZONTV

𝕏

Currently Reading

First look: Austin breaks ground on 'light-filled' Central Library

First look: Austin breaks ground on 'light-filled' Central Library

Design scheme by Lake|Flato and Shepley Bulfinch incorporates reading "porches" and a light-filled, six-story atrium.

By BD+C Editors | June 7, 2013

Continue Reading

The city of Austin, Texas, last week broke ground on its new Central Library, establishing a major civic presence and community gathering space in the heart of the city’s redeveloped Seaholm district. The library, which is scheduled for completion in 2016, is designed by the architectural joint venture of Lake|Flato and Shepley Bulfinch.

The building is defined by a light-filled, six-story atrium space wrapped by collections and event space. Distinctive elements include a series of reading porches that overlook Shoal Creek and Lady Bird Lake, a quiet reading room, café, and Recycled Reads bookstore. Special areas that support the city’s emerging culture and arts scene include a 350-seat special events center.

The library is targeting a minimum of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification. Its sustainable strategies include a major photovoltaic panel array, which will generate electrical power for the building; a rainwater harvesting system that will provide water for landscape irrigation and restroom plumbing fixtures; and a landscaped roof.

The facility supports alternative transportation, with charging stations for electric cars; a 150-bike corral, and direct links to the multi-use paths that run along the water.

The 198,000 square foot facility will replace the city’s 1979 Faulk Central Library.

Tags

Related Stories

The Weekly Show, Apr 29, 2021: COVID-19's impact on campus planning, and bird management strategies

University Buildings | Apr 29, 2021

The Weekly Show, April 29, 2021: COVID-19's impact on campus planning, and bird management strategies

This week on The Weekly show, BD+C Senior Editor John Caulfield interviews a duo of industry experts on 1) how campus planning has changed during the pandemic and 2) managing bird infestations on construction sites and completed buildings.

The building housing Howard University's College of Engineering and Architecture

Architects | Apr 22, 2021

SmithGroup enters partnership to support architecture programs at three Historically Black universities

The firm is providing instructors and mentors as part of a broader effort to expand the industry’s diversity.

The Weekly Show, Apr 22, 2021: COVID-19's impact on multifamily amenities

Multifamily Housing | Apr 22, 2021

The Weekly Show, Apr 22, 2021: COVID-19's impact on multifamily amenities

This week on The Weekly show, BD+C's Robert Cassidy speaks with three multifamily design experts about the impact of COVID-19 on apartment and condo amenities, based on the 2021 Multifamily Amenities Survey.

BDCU

Sponsored | Structural Materials | Apr 21, 2021

Improving Multi-Story Building Design

The Weekly Show, Apr 15, 2021: The ins and outs of adaptive reuse, and sensors for real-time construction monitoring

Adaptive Reuse | Apr 15, 2021

The Weekly Show, Apr 15, 2021: The ins and outs of adaptive reuse, and sensors for real-time construction monitoring

This week on The Weekly show, BD+C editors speak with AEC industry leaders from PBDW Architects and Wohlsen Construction about what makes adaptive reuse projects successful, and sensors for real-time monitoring of concrete construction.

Architects | Apr 14, 2021

HASTINGS elevates Sara Atherton and Derek Schmidt to Principal

Hastings Architecture promotes Sara Atherton and Derek Schmidt to Principal.

BD+C exclusive research: What owners want from AEC firms

Industry Research | Apr 9, 2021

BD+C exclusive research: What building owners want from AEC firms

BD+C’s first-ever owners’ survey finds them focused on improving buildings’ performance for higher investment returns.

Spring Has Sprung at Construction Specialties

Architects | Apr 2, 2021

Spring Has Sprung at Construction Specialties

Introducing a slew of sensational solids, metallic finishes that cast subtle and shimmering effects, and disposable curtains to complement our exclusive fabric line.

Bipartisan ‘YIMBY’ bill would provide $1.5B in grants to spur new housing

Multifamily Housing | Mar 30, 2021

Bipartisan ‘YIMBY’ bill would provide $1.5B in grants to spur new housing

Resources for local leaders to overcome obstacles such as density-unfriendly or discriminatory zoning.

Finding success for downtown office space after COVID-19

Office Buildings | Mar 26, 2021

Finding success for downtown office space after COVID-19

Using the right planning tools can spur new uses for Class B and C commercial real estate.

Top Articles

MFPRO+ New Projects

BIG’s One High Line finally reaches completion in New York City’s West Chelsea neighborhood

Urban Planning

Bridging the gap: How early architect involvement can revolutionize a city’s capital improvement plans

Building Enclosure Systems

Winners of Building Envelope Innovation Prize focus on secondary glazing

More In Category

MFPRO+ New Projects

BIG’s One High Line finally reaches completion in New York City’s West Chelsea neighborhood

One High Line, a luxury residential project spanning a full city block in New York’s West Chelsea neighborhood, reached completion this summer following years of delays related to investor lawsuits.

Urban Planning

Bridging the gap: How early architect involvement can revolutionize a city’s capital improvement plans

Capital Improvement Plans (CIPs) typically span three to five years and outline future city projects and their costs. While they set the stage, the design and construction of these projects often extend beyond the CIP window, leading to a disconnect between the initial budget and evolving project scope. This can result in financial shortfalls, forcing cities to cut back on critical project features.

MFPRO+ New Projects

Luxury waterfront tower in Brooklyn features East River and Manhattan skyline views

Leasing recently began for The Dupont, a 41-story luxury rental property along the Brooklyn, N.Y., waterfront. Located within the 22-acre Greenpoint Landing, where it overlooks the newly constructed Newtown Barge Park, the high-rise features East River and Manhattan skyline views along with 20,000 sf of indoor and outdoor communal space.

Libraries

Reasons to reinvent the Midcentury academic library

DLR Group's Interior Design Leader Gretchen Holy, Assoc. IIDA, shares the idea that a designer's responsibility to embrace a library’s history, respect its past, and create an environment that will serve student populations for the next 100 years.

Most Popular Content