Newspapers are displayed adjacent to the fireplace in the main reading room. Windows look out onto a public park, which is in the flood plain of the Roaring Fork River.
The Library is separated from the Community Room by a common entry that serves as a reception area for Community Room events and as a place for people to gather, chat, or have a coffee either before entering the Library itself.The Community Room, like the main reading room of the Library, is sheathed in regionally obtained aspen boards, variously spaced over absorbent backing for various acoustic requirements.
The north end of the reading room lifts up to afford a view of the top of Basalt Mountain across the river. Subdued light combined with comfortable seating and good work areas make this the most popular place in the Library.
The steel structure of the main reading room was inspired by trees in the flood plain just north of the building site. Daylight enters from clerestories, which are glazed with glass or translucent plastic panels depending on the solar orientation. Small alcoves are recessed into the sides of the large wood volume to accommodate reserve shelves, small meeting rooms and service areas.
Our Associated Architect, OZ Architecture, came up with this circle of aspens as a way to identify the children’s library and to provide some separation between the younger and older users of this space. The gray patch of carpet was eventually replaced with plexi-glass to allow a view into the 18″ tall underfloor plenum, which allows for low velocity air delivery and data and power modifications as technology or furniture layouts change.
