Ex/Libris

A New Prototype Library for Renovo, Pennsylvania

DESIGN PROMPT: Reimagine the typology of the free-library in a contemporary context, an accessible civic collective space for knowledge and learning, a community hub. The site for this year’s competition, Renovo, Pennsylvania, selected as representative of many towns across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Appalachian cultural region, and rust-belt communities.

• My entry for the competition takes inspiration of the surrounding mountains of the Bucktail State Park Natural Area.

• By peeling away the ground surface, I was able to create a riverfront theater and two recreation fields for various events throughout the year.

• Tucking the library and community center program beneath creates a natural thermal insulation zone assisting with heating and cooling costs throughout the year. The interior is composed of one large volume stepping down to a lower level with frosted glass-enclosed meeting and classroom facilities. This allows for flexibility of use from one person curling up in the corner to read a Hemingway novel, to a young creative hosting a marketing meeting in one of the conference rooms, to a play hosted on the auditorium steps.

• Water is collected from impervious surfaces on site, filtered and stored in a cistern which would provide water for irrigation and toilets.