PROJECT Gaithersburg Library
LOCATION Gaithersburg, Maryland, US
PROJECT COMPLETION DATE 12/1/2013
ARCHITECT Whitman, Requardt & Associates, LLP
ASSOCIATED ARCHITECT Ann Beha Architects / Ann Beha / Steve Gerrard
OWNER/CLIENT Montgomery County
CONTRACTOR / CONSTRUCTION MANAGER Henley Construction Company, Inc./ Chad Oursler
PHOTOGRAPHER Peter Vanderwarker; Scott Dombrowski
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM David McCormick, Doug Kelso
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT
The expansion of Gaithersburg Library, one of the busiest branches in Montgomery County, was essential to meeting the 21st century needs of its growing and diverse constituency – a community that speaks more than five languages.
The design focused on expanding traditional library amenities, such as books, computer stations and resource materials, while also creating dynamic spaces that foster community-building and support cultural programs and courses, such as English as a second language and citizenship preparation.
Since the three-acre site would not accommodate the expanded program on one level, the solution was a partial demolition of the building and a new two-story addition. This accomplished three major goals: 1) Creating a new, welcoming, identity for the building, 2) Providing a remote location for noisier activities, and 3) Facilitating the development of a new spine between the renovated and new structure. The spine, with abundant natural light through the introduction of a clerestory, is a central way finding element visible from any location within the library.
Resource and support areas are located along the new spine for ease of access. Study areas are located nearby that support group interaction while an array of gathering spaces support the broad needs of the Gaithersburg community.
MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD
Project PDF
IMAGE CAPTIONS & CREDITS
IMAGE 1 Gaithersburg Library_high res ext, Twilight At The Corner of Montgomery Village & Christopher Avenues, ©2014, Peter Vanderwarker Photographer
IMAGE 2 Vanderwarker-3561 resize, Outside Of The Charles W. Gilchrist Center for Cultural Diversity, ©2014, Peter Vanderwarker Photographer
IMAGE 3 Gaithersburg Library_high res int, View Through The Main Lobby, ©2015, Scott Dombrowski
IMAGE 4 Vanderwarker-3785, View Of The Main Entry At Night, ©2014, Peter Vanderwarker Photographer
IMAGE 5 Vanderwarker, View At The Corner of Montgomery Village & Christopher Avenues, ©2014, Peter Vanderwarker Photography
IMAGE 6 Vanderwarker-3739, View Along Montgomery Village Avenue, ©2015, Scott Dombrowski
IMAGE 7 20150612-085100-HDR, View Of The Main Reading Room, ©2015, Scott Dombrowski
IMAGE 8 20150612-085840-HDR, View Of The Quiet Area Lounge, ©2015, Scott Dombrowski
Gaithersburg Library
Category
Local > AIA Potomac Valley > Institutional Architecture (AIA Potomac Valley)
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