Title: Charleston County Public Library Support Center
Location of Proejct: Charleston, SC
Project Completion Date: 8/18/2020
Firm Name: Liollio Architecture

Short Description: This project began as a practical renovation of a dreary precast concrete warehouse but became a vibrant workplace design that asserts that even the back-of-house functions of a library support center can, and should, be celebrated.
The Support Center relocates the library administration, training, and central Automated Materials Handling to a consolidated facility. A renovation and interior upfit to an existing industrial commerce facility blends beauty and practicality to provide a humane, uplifting work environment.

Architect's Statement: This public library support services center, formerly an office/logistics facility, was a 23,000 SF time-sensitive renovation, retrofitted to support the library system's daily functions. The relocation of Library administration and support from the main library downtown to a new satellite location allows for expansion of public services. The new center houses the primary infrastructure for Automated Materials Handling (AMH) equipment, staff training, and conference facilities. Additional program includes offices and open workspaces, conference rooms, interior and exterior employee break areas, a training room, storage, and loading for book deliveries and processing. The building also includes the library’s main server room and IT support.

The program called for each division to have designated workspace while remaining connected as an organization. The building is designed around a central spine with overhead daylighting and soft seating. The spine also serves as prefunction space to the training room and large conference room. Daylighting studies were completed during design to maximize the internal natural lighting for the deep floor plate. Natural light at the end of corridors and overhead skylights bring daylighting far into the building and offer connections to nature throughout the day.

Modest exterior upgrades include a new entry canopy, pops of color at each windows, and a FEMA-required cast-in-place flood wall. A small number of new windows were carefully placed for maximum benefit,

The library staff were extremely nervous and reluctant about this move, especially given the condition of the existing building and the difficulty picturing it as a functional, healthy workplace. Post-occupancy, the response from Library staff has been joy and delight at the transformation of the dark existing shell into a vibrant and comfortable workplace.