Title: Central Library
Location of Proejct: Atlanta, Georgia
Project Completion Date: December 2021
Firm Name: Cooper Carry with Moody Nolan Architects
Short Description: Central Library, now renamed Fulton County Central Library, has been an Atlanta landmark since it opened in 1980 as the last project of architect Marcel Breuer. The entire 235,000-gross-square-foot building needed attention, with an update of both building systems and library operations. All new systems dramatically improved efficiency as attested by the project’s LEED Gold rating. Balancing respect for the existing building with the needs of current library users, the reimagined library emphasizes sightlines and connection, becoming a place for the community to come together to exchange information, experiences, and ideas.
Architect's Statement: When Marcel Breuer planned the Brutalist-style library in the early 1970s, the personal computer didn’t exist and the internet was two decades away. Its design reflected the prevailing expectations of libraries as quiet repositories of knowledge. Since then, the paradigm of how a library operates and what it symbolizes has been upended by technological and social changes.
Honoring Breuer’s vision while transforming the building into a vibrant environment for people to share and create was the central design challenge. Extensive programming with input from library staff and community users informed project priorities. The exterior was exquisitely sculpted but almost entirely solid, which made increasing daylighting and views difficult and occasionally contentious. Interior layouts created perceived barriers to use; reworking them so the public was aware of the services offered, able to locate them, and felt safe while using them was critical.
The building occupies an entire block in downtown Atlanta. Changes were focused on the side facing Forsyth Street, the public entry opening onto a plaza, with views across Forsyth Street to Peachtree Street and across Carnegie Way to an entrance to the Peachtree Center MARTA Station. New openings in the exterior were carefully detailed and located to work with the existing massing. Most are located on the Forsyth Street elevation where they have the greatest benefit by providing views into the building for passersby.
Vertical stacking of the program was carefully considered to align with usage patterns now and in the future. Open floorplates and robust power and data allow flexibility for future changes. The existing entry plaza had been extensively changed in the early ‘90s and no longer resembled the original Breuer design. It had features that obstructed views and the multiple levels weren’t accessible to all users. The central service elevator clogged floorplates and was moved, replaced by an atrium allowing improved views across and between floors.
Librarians advocated for a more flexible and efficient design that would enhance programming initiatives. In response, a variety of seating and meeting spaces were integrated in collaboration with reconfigurable furnishings, resulting in a colorful variety of seating and table arrangements that amplified the wayfinding experience. Artist studios and makerspaces were placed onsite, providing a public resource for patrons. Excess library space following the renovation is being allocated to future ventures, businesses, and services that meet the needs of Fulton County and the community.
Instead of the previously underutilized fifth floor outdoor terrace and surrounding event space, visitors now discover comfortable gathering hubs that encourage library guests to move outside the confines of the traditional library and interact with the world around them. Looking ahead, some flex spaces like the terrace and adjacent auditorium with telescoping seating and large glass operable doors could be used as an income-generating venue for events — further helping the library to sustain its mission.
To better welcome pedestrians and provide universal access and safety, the library’s revamped exterior plaza was activated with more lighting, video information display, and spaces to meet and gather. The goal was to extend the library’s footprint into the urban fabric and draw outsiders in. The newly reopened building is ready to inspire another generation of users to learn, participate, and contribute to the community.
Central Library
Category
Design Awards > Adaptive Reuse/Preservation
Description
Central Library
Atlanta, Georgia
December 2021
Cooper Carry with Moody Nolan Architects
Winner Status
- Honor
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