Title: South County Regional Library
Location of Proejct: Charlotte, NC
Project Completion Date: 12/16/2020
Firm Name: Liollio Architecture

Short Description: The two-story library (1998) is the metro’s largest regional location. This 34,000 sf interior renovation responds to community needs for increased and flexible learning, collaboration, and meeting spaces, maintaining a robust collection in a fixed footprint. The community valued the treehouse feel of the library and wanted to preserve the connections to the natural environment, while also celebrating their connections to global culture, performing arts, children and families, and lifelong learners. This renovation was about transformation, taking advantage of assets the existing building had but sculpting and enhancing them for a bright, open, community-focused library, connected to its landscape.

Architect's Statement: The county plans capital projects more than ten years in advance; when this project was initiated during the 2009 Recession, the county had to focus on ways to improve services without increasing operational costs (staffing). Since this location was the highest volume use, and yet out of date for modern library services, it was selected for a holistic renovation. Unlike some library systems that are trending away from collections-heavy branches, this location had to maintain its large collection size, while also providing new spaces for collaborative activities, within a fixed footprint. In pre-design community meetings, the design team heard loud and clear: “Don’t take our books!” The library is now more inviting, with a clarified parti and more open space. The building has been elevated from the dark, hushed library of the past and is now a more dynamic space for a vibrant, international neighborhood. The design has removed the sense that patrons needed permission to use the library, substituting an empowerment that makes the library their own.

Before renovation, the main entry was dark and disorienting – with the service point around the corner behind you as you enter. An awkward split stair was too steep, not inviting to the second floor, and blocked the light from the existing windows, while holds shelving further crowded the space. In addition, all activities shared one meeting room, which contained no windows. Shared by adult, teen, and children's programming as well as taken over by early voting, the single space not only restricted community programming, but failed to draw people in, since it was behind closed doors.

The two small study rooms also had no windows, which meant users had to be over age 18, for security purposes. An open-computer classroom was taken over for tax-planning each spring but offered no privacy for the individual consultations. Quiet study areas were populated with heavy four-seat wooden tables, typically occupied by single users, reducing the capacity to serve patrons during busy study and tutoring times. Acoustics were another constant issue, with a double-height vestibule that was open to the second floor, frequently transmitting private conversations to public areas. Before the renovation, the skylights offered very little effective daylight, and bulky, inflexible furniture and inefficient shelving left no room for collaborative activities. Patron behavior was managed with signage, since specific spaces were not available for quiet study, collaborative work, or sufficient meeting space.

The community valued the treehouse feel of the library and wanted to preserve the connections to the natural environment, while also celebrating their connections to global culture, performing arts, children and families, and lifelong learners. The design concept blurs the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces with flooring that references the local nature trails. Views to nature are maximized with reading nooks and respite areas overlooking the trees. Flexible spaces such as studios, meeting rooms, and a café provide increased connectivity, and a neutral palette with intentional use of color celebrates the international, high tech, artistic, and nature-loving community.

The transformed entrance locates both a service point and the presence of books front and center – a key request – along with views to the meeting room and cafe. The geometric acoustic ceiling and new monumental stair manage both noise and light and invite patrons to explore the entire library. Custom guardrails and perforated risers maximize daylight spilling into this cozy nook – a spot to read, meet, or wait for family members to gather. By strategically reorganizing space and capturing some extended square footage for the café, a much larger and more flexible main meeting room is created with plenty of transparency to share the dynamic activity within. The café doubles as a pre-function and spill-out space for the main meeting room. This beating heart of the library is a showcase visible from the main entry.

A new Children’s Activity Room – a critical community need - was created within the existing footprint, through more effective use of space, flexible furnishing, and house features to inspire a cozy and whimsical environment. Nestled under an acoustic canopy on plush grass-like carpet, a custom sculpted tree anchors children’s Storytime.

The upper level is more open and inviting with enlarged sculpted skylight openings that flood the open flexible spaces with natural light. Infilling a new floor above the entry vestibule solved a noise issue and added space for a studio. Through new and varied furniture solutions, much more flexibility and capacity is possible in the shared open seating, study, and collaboration area. Eliminating dropped ceilings allowed spandrel glass to be replaced with clear vision glass, for enhanced daylight and views to the surrounding trees. The beloved nooks popping out within the treetops were retained and enhanced with pops of color and new seating.