Cedar Rapids, IA
The new 95,000-square foot library is designed to be a vibrant, multipurpose destination and a space for the community to mix and collaborate. The design of the new library was driven by the desire to embrace openness, transparency and foster public engagement with and within the space. With those principles in mind, the team looked for innovative ways to present vistas and views throughout the structure while visually connecting the streetscape with the functions occurring within the building.
In keeping with the themes of openness and transparency, large expanses of glass occur at the first and second floors of the collection spaces. Views into the building frame the rhythmic placement of library stacks juxtaposed with a lively and active Children’s Collection. The views in and out of the collection spaces are seen from nearly every vantage point around the new library. A 200-seat auditorium situated on the second and third levels looks outward toward Greene Square. The auditorium stage is set against a curtain wall of glass allowing for the changing seasons and cityscape to serve as a living backdrop.
Centralized Services
The central space of the library is the Service Core Zone. This space brings together all of the core patron services in a hub and spoke system allowing users to orient themselves in the building as well as gather to meet. The spaces and mixing of circulation paths is most clearly expressed within this zone. It is defined architecturally by the rake of the auditorium as it vaults over the first floor Adult Fiction collections and 2nd floor “bridge” links within the Service Core. The zone was designed with clear sight lines and open vertical circulation to allow users to readily navigate their way to various destinations.
A café and coffee shop is nestled in the core enticing visitors to gather, linger and engage with each other. Off the café is the Young Adult Area where rooms for gaming, study, and group work open to an active collection space. The Children’s Collection occupies the east portion of the first floor. The second floor consists of the Adult Non-Fiction collections, a large dividable conference space, and staff and administrative offices. The third floor consists of a break-out lobby for the Auditorium and public access to the green roof.
The 24,000 sf green roof provides an attractive space for library patrons to gather while offering yet another set of views and visual access to the surrounding cityscape. Functionally, the roof will aid in waste water management while serving as an outdoor plaza to be used by individual visitors and for library-hosted and private events. Importantly, this space is the first publically-accessible green roof in Cedar Rapids.
A Sustainable Solution
The new library represents a tremendous investment of resources. It was essential that the design be flexible to accommodate the future needs of the community. One method of “future proofing” was the integration of raised access floors as part of the design. These raised floors will allow for the distribution of power, data, and low velocity supply air permitting the collection spaces to evolve over time. The collection spaces were intentionally designed to be very open; they incorporate few walls and a clear span between the columns to allow for the full utilization of the available square footage. Dedicated mechanical spaces and “core functions” are located on the west side of the site in an area that fronts a rail line and parking garage. The southern portion of the site is surface parking, which could be utilized as space for future expansion. The building has achieved LEED Platinum certification. Energy and cost-saving features were integrated into the building design and the roof itself will offer conservation-based educational opportunities for visitors.
“Green” Features:
Targeting LEED Platinum Certification
Designed to exceed the Iowa Energy Code by 55%
Pump & Re-inject Geothermal HVAC System
Pre-flood Library used energy at a rate of 100 kbtu/square foot
New Library designed to use energy at a rate of 37 ktbu/square foot
Exterior Glazing covers approximately 37% of the building envelope
Thermally broken aluminum framing
1” insulating glass has low-E coating and is argon filled
Exterior Envelope: R-28, maximized thermal performance
Daylight Harvesting: (Daylight sensors, dimmable ballasts, and T5/LED Lights
Use of Natural Light: (15 solatubes and large clerestory on roof)
Storm Water Management: Retain 90% of normal annual rainfall and 100% of all rainfall up to 1” in a 24 hour period on site.
24,000 SF accessible green roof with rainwater harvesting for irrigation
Pervious paving with storm water collection chambers below parking lot
