News

Arizona State University's Hayden Library reopens, MIT's Hayden Library plans a renovation, Deschutes PL acquires new land, and the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County launches a multiyear system-wide improvement project.

When creating sustainable library designs, planners start by looking at elements that can be reused. Much inspired and practical design has emerged by repurposing and building on or around what already exists: structures, materials, public spaces, personnel—and, as two recent Library Journal Design Institutes in Colorado Springs and Austin demonstrated—community.

The 2019 New Landmark Libraries celebrates six paradigm-shifting public libraries designed around their communities' changing needs.

The Central Library branch of Tulsa City-County Library, OK, is one of six winners of our New Landmark Libraries for 2019. Its $55 million renovation transformed the original library and created an event space for 400, an interactive and expansive outdoor plaza, and 26 percent more public programming across its five stories. In collaboration with the city, the project was intentionally designed to revitalize the downtown core.

The Half Moon Bay Library of San Mateo County Libraries, CA, is one of six winners of our New Landmark Libraries for 2019. The new building, certified as Zero Net Energy and LEED Platinum, is the culmination of 20 years of planning, engagement, and design led by the library system in collaboration with Noll & Tam Architects.

The Ives Squared Library, part of the New Haven Free Public Library, is one of six winners of our New Landmark Libraries for 2019. The $1.5 million renovation aimed to launch a nexus of creativity based on design thinking. Community co-creation led the visioning process that resulted in the 4,700 square foot 21st century Maker space and public salon.

The Varina Area Library branch of the Henrico County Public Libary, VA, is one of six winners of our New Landmark Libraries for 2019. The new building, on 22 acres of wooded land, combines the vernacular architecture of the region with the rural character of the landscape. The design includes multifunctional spaces, a digital media lab, an all-ages collaboration zone, and a grand staircase for media viewings and talks. Since the 2017 opening, visits and programming have increased by 188 and 481 percent, respectively.

The Dayton Main Library, part of the Dayton Metro Library, OH, is one of four honorable mentions for New Landmark Libraries for 2019. The building, in the once-dilapidated Cooper Park and on the Miami-Erie Canal, was almost entirely repurposed. Echoing the region's engineering annd nautical heritage, bridges cross the atrium and visually connect the space, which opens to a three-story atrium featuring a grand staircase. The library now includes flexible spaces, a business incubator, and a theater.

The Advanced Learning Library, a branch of the Wichita Public Library, KS, is one of four honorable mentions for New Landmark Libraries for 2019. Sited at the Arkansas River, the library activates a once-abandoned industrial lot and includes 25 collaboration spaces and themed pavilions to suit the needs of the community.