The new two-story, two volume 13,000 sq. ft. building is the largest branch library in the City of Hartford, providing much needed community resources to an already vibrant retail and residential neighborhood. The program includes a 150-seat community room, smaller meeting rooms, learning lab, a café, designated adult, teen and children’s areas and a protected courtyard.
In keeping with the historic character of the site and the neighborhood's scale, the new building's massing matched the original in mass, height, and materials. The corner portion of the new building is treated as a ‘new’ insertion, clad in ground-faced CMU, providing an open presence for the Library at this critical intersection. The project’s exterior comprises two pieces: a lightly colored cast stone box serving as the entry volume with welcoming and revealing ‘cut-outs’ alongside a traditional brick façade with soaring windows.
Graphically printed acoustic wall panels were utilized to recreate the full-scale original demolished façade and artwork. These hang in the double-height reading room and are seen through the transparent exterior and second-floor community room.