The Reby Cary Youth Library, located in Fort Worth, Texas, celebrated its grand opening on Aug. 14. The project, named after civil rights pioneer and educator Reby Cary, is the first public library for children and youth in Fort Worth.
The $5.49 million, KAI-designed project includes activity stations, bright colors, interactive art installations, and cozy cubbies. Amenities include a large outdoor sensory garden, a maker space with technology and creative activities, and multiple study rooms. The library forgoes tall bookshelves and hardback chairs typical of traditional libraries and instead opts for lower shelving and seating designed to encourage families to read together.
The design team worked closely with artist Creative Machines to create an interactive public art installation. Dubbed “Only Connect,” the installation is suspended from the ceiling and made up of over 20,000 glass marbles and cascading LED lights. Visitors can manipulate the artwork’s lighted colors and patterns through the simple touch of a button and sensor points distributed throughout the library.
In addition to providing architectural and interior design services, KAI also coordinated the civil, landscape, structural/mechanical/electrical.plumbing engineering, fire protection, audio-visual, lighting, technology and cost estimating services through various teaming partners.
In addition to KAI, the build team also included FPI Builders as the general contractor.
Related Stories
| Jul 18, 2014
Top Engineering/Architecture Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Jacobs, AECOM, Parsons Brinckerhoff top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest engineering/architecture firms in the United States.
| Jul 18, 2014
Top Engineering Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Fluor, Arup, Day & Zimmermann top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest engineering firms in the United States.
| Jul 18, 2014
Top Architecture Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Gensler, Perkins+Will, NBBJ top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest architecture firms in the United States.
| Jul 18, 2014
2014 Giants 300 Report
Building Design+Construction magazine's annual ranking the nation's largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S.
| Jul 7, 2014
7 emerging design trends in brick buildings
From wild architectural shapes to unique color blends and pattern arrangements, these projects demonstrate the design possibilities of brick.
| Jul 2, 2014
Emerging trends in commercial flooring
Rectangular tiles, digital graphic applications, the resurgence of terrazzo, and product transparency headline today’s commercial flooring trends.
| Jun 30, 2014
Research finds continued growth of design-build throughout United States
New research findings indicate that for the first time more than half of projects above $10 million are being completed through design-build project delivery.
| Jun 18, 2014
Arup uses 3D printing to fabricate one-of-a-kind structural steel components
The firm's research shows that 3D printing has the potential to reduce costs, cut waste, and slash the carbon footprint of the construction sector.
| Jun 16, 2014
6 U.S. cities at the forefront of innovation districts
A new Brookings Institution study records the emergence of “competitive places that are also cool spaces.”
| Jun 12, 2014
Austrian university develops 'inflatable' concrete dome method
Constructing a concrete dome is a costly process, but this may change soon. A team from the Vienna University of Technology has developed a method that allows concrete domes to form with the use of air and steel cables instead of expensive, timber supporting structures.
