PROJECT  Michael E. Busch Annapolis Library

LOCATION Annapolis, Maryland, US​

ARCHITECT WGM

CLIENT Anne Arundel County Public Library

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM Jeremy Kline, AIA, LEED AP BD+C; Jacob Bechard, RA, LEED AP BD+C; Edward Masek, AIA; Rebekah Whitten
Library Program Planning / Interior Design / FF&E: Margaret Sullivan Studio, LLC; Design Architect: Louis Cherry Architecture
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Annapolis Landscape Architects, LLC
CONTRACTOR Towson Mechanical, Inc.

ENGINEERS
Columbia Engineering, Inc.
Bay Engineering, Inc.
Gipe Associates, Inc.
Gipe Associates, Inc.

PHOTOGRAPHER Keith Isaacs Photo

CONSULTANTS (if applicable)
Sustainability Consulting: Lorax Partnerships, LLC, 16 W Hamilton St, Baltimore, MD 21201 - katie@loraxllc.com
Fire Protection Engineering: EBL Engineers, LLC, 8005 Harford Rd # A, Baltimore, MD 21234 - tsmith@eblengineers.com
Cost Estimating: Costcon Construction Services, Inc., 1504 Wild Cranberry Dr, Crownsville, MD 21032 - lloyd@costconcs.com
Owner's Representative: Hill International, Inc. - 1667 K Street, NW Suite 520, Washington, DC 20006 - edwardnewman@hillintl.com

PROJECT COMPLETION DATE  4/15/2020

PROJECT SUMMARY
Built on the same site as and as a replacement for the beloved existing library, the new Michael E. Busch Annapolis Library endeavors to provide a customized recipe of spaces, places, technology, and collections that is uniquely Annapolis; intentionally designed to be flexible, nimble and adaptable for the future. The design process was rooted in identifying real community needs, designing for positive customer service experiences, and creating spaces for the 21st century library activities, programs and learning outcomes.

An initial programming process defined the spaces in the new Annapolis Library. These include open and inviting spaces for the collection; a large subdividable meeting space; six other collaboration spaces of various sizes; dedicated areas for children, families, and teens; and various other amenity spaces.

The architectural design of the building springs from both this visioning and programming process and the careful site analysis. As such, the design for the Annapolis Library has evolved both from the inside-out (desired user experiences, programming requirements, and staffing and service models) and from the outside-in (site context, daylighting, regulatory requirements).

Although the decision to keep the new building on the current library site was met with overwhelming community support, it brought with it the design challenge of creating a building that could appropriately fit in with the surrounding residential context while still presenting as an important civic building. In addition, the exterior appearance needed to allude to the historical Annapolis surrounds even while communicating the goals and aspirations of the new 21st century library. Through both its materiality and form, the project attempts to reconcile these sometimes competing factors.

While both the exterior and interior design make generous use of nautical design metaphors, more explicit historical references can be found in custom finish choices throughout the Library. The entry flooring is an engineered stone tile product which has a digitally manipulated image of an 1895 Coast Survey of the Chesapeake Bay around Annapolis. Acoustical panels in the adult and children’s collections areas exhibit respectively: 1) the text of George Washington’s resignation of his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in 1783 (given just down the road at the Maryland State House) and; 2) the dedication poem written for the opening of the former Annapolis Library on the same site in 1965 by Maryland’s Poet Laureate at the time, Vincent Godfrey Burns. Finally, a digitally altered floor plan of the Maryland State House can be found printed on the wool carpet in one of the collaboration spaces.

At the core, the Michael E. Busch Annapolis Library attempts to provide a welcoming place for community members of all ages, races, and walks of life to enjoy. It contains spaces which may resonate differently for different people, creating a place which hopefully leads each patron to feel that the building has been designed purposely for them. The building also prioritizes sustainable design in a didactic way – the electrochromic glazing, geothermal mechanical system, and native landscape design specifically provide opportunities for community education and enrichment.

JURY COMMENTS (if applicable)

IMAGES – CAPTIONS & CREDITS

Image 1  View of the Community Living Room and Adult Collection; Keith Isaacs Photo
Image 2  View from Southeast; Keith Isaacs Photo
Image 3  View of the Children's Collection; Keith Isaacs Photo
Image 4  View of Main Entry from North; Keith Isaacs Photo
Image 5  View of Entry Plaza at Twilight; Keith Isaacs Photo
Image 6  View of Entry and Donor Wall; Keith Isaacs Photo
Image 7  View of Technology and Teen Areas; Keith Isaacs Photo
Image 8  View of Children's Area; Keith Isaacs Photo

MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD
Project PDF