The New Lenox Public Library opened
to the public as the first building of a new town center for the
Village of New Lenox. In addition to designing the library, BCA
helped the library district fashion the many intergovernmental
agreements that were required for this comprehensive planning
project. We began with a project feasibility study to test the
viability of the proposed site and later assisted the Library
District to build public support for their referendum effort. |
Filtered, natural light
animates the adult library |
To accommodate the library district's
20-year population projectionsghhe new library is approximately
five times the size of the original library Previous ownership
of the library the building site can be traced to a member of
Frank Lloyd Wright's family. In light of the Wright connection,
the Library Board asked BCA to do a 'prairie style' library. The
final library design reflects our contemporary interpretation
of Wright's turn-of-the-century Prairie Style architecture.
The ground level of the library
houses the children's collection, staff offices and public meeting
rooms. The layout of the ground level allows the meeting rooms
to be operated independently of the rest of the library. A coffee
shop offers a diversion to library patrons and provides views
of the Village Commons. The second floor is dedicated to adult
services and offers spectacular views of the new town center.
Natural light, art work and an indoor 'tree' in the children's
area create specific environments and memorable 'places' within
the library.
A quiet adult reading
area offers great views of the Village Commons
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BCA designed the younger
children's library around a "reading tree" that provides
a fun place for parents to share a book with their children
Lively colors and interesting shapes
make the older children's library a fun place to visit
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