DESIGN TREND: Light and Sound

Advances in technology and creative use allow libraries to define spaces, add color, and control noise without any walls.

1. The new 60,710 square foot Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library, IA, features a muted and subtle color scheme lit by a series of saw-toothed rooftop light monitors and a two-story lobby. The southwest-facing side of the building features long, narrow clerestory windows. CREDITS: OPN Architects, architect; Alex Michl, photo

2. The Medina County District Library, Medina, OH, uses lightwells and a central atrium to bring light into and through the floors of the brutalist building. CREDITS: CBLH Design, Inc., architect; CBLH Design, Inc./Wetzler Studios, Inc., photo

3. At the Eden Prairie Branch of Hennepin Public Library, MN, a barrel vaulted ceiling incorporates acoustic panels to offer light without sacrificing a quiet reading area. Elsewhere, high performance finishes and wall treatments provide acoustically sensitive study and meeting spaces. CREDITS: MSR Design, architect; ©MSR Design, photo

4. At the Aspen Drive Library, Cook Memorial Public Library District, Vernon Hills, IL, suspended LED strips with brightly colored accents bring movement to an active space. CREDITS: Product Architecture + Design, architect; McShane Fleming Studios, photo