Title: Henderson County Public Library
Location of Proejct: Henderson, KY
Project Completion Date: 2021
Firm Name: Hafer

Short Description: The Henderson County Public Library desired a 21st Century library to better serve its community. The existing Carnegie Library and 1980 addition both required finish and spatial upgrades, while a new 20,000 sf addition was necessary to meet programmatic needs.

The programming now includes an expanded children’s library and many new amenities including a teen library, a flexible adult training room, a 150-seat flexible meeting room, a maker space, tutoring spaces, multiple reading and group collaboration spaces, an outdoor roof deck overlooking the Ohio River, a public art gallery curated by a local arts organization, and separate outdoor program spaces.

Architect's Statement: There were a few special challenges to overcome on this project. First, the team needed to seamlessly blend the three sections of the library, the original Carnegie library, the 1980’s addition, and the new addition, into one cohesive design. That challenge also included incorporating the existing oak circulation desk into the new design as well as making sure it was done in a way that didn’t make the library feel dated—a specific request from the library board. The second challenge focused on the existing low ceilings from the 1980s. The new design needed to make the ceilings interesting while keeping them in one plane. The final challenge was incorporating an interactive tree, which the design team designed, into the children’s library. The tree needed to look like it belonged there, and the design of the children’s library needed to complement it. The tree also was designed and built off-site, posing another challenge for designers to ensure the tree and the room were cohesive.

To blend the library’s existing oak circulation desk into the new design as well as tie all three sections of the library together, the design team used matching oak throughout the renovation and addition. Rectangular wood ‘cloud’ ceiling elements with integrated lighting mimic the rectangular patterns in the existing oak circulation desk. Oak-accented ceilings, column wraps, shelving, and other features throughout the building were added to enhance the aesthetic. In addition, the designers used the same blue hue throughout to create additional coherence.

For the ceilings, designers had to think outside the box on how to transform the low ceilings in the 1980s addition. They landed on unique lighting fixtures that are themselves a design highlight. These helped create ceilings that pop, as well as accentuate the spaces they inhabit. In the teen room, more circular cloud ceiling elements with integrated lighting add depth and help the acoustics of the room. In the children’s library, a green inset in the ceiling provides a focal point and a sense of height for an interactive tree.

The tree, which serves as a children’s play structure, was not ready until the library was nearly complete, so designers had to keep constant communication with the builder to ensure the tree and the room would create a cohesive environment. To help, designers placed a conceptual tree in the space from the beginning. Green on the ceiling, walls, carpet, and the tree’s green leaves tie in with the nature theme of the children’s library. Other bright colors in the room complement the playful nature of the tree and the patterned carpet mimics stones and moss that would be found in nature.