Location: Prince William County, VA
The new, 20,000-SF Montclair library and restored historic Barnes House were constructed together to form a civic complex. The site for the complex is sharply sloped and adjacent to a commercial area. As a result, parking for 100 cars was required to be structured beneath the library. While some patrons will walk from the commercial area, most will enter the library from the garage providing a different experience from most suburban libraries.
The library sits on a plinth over the garage and floats above the surrounding trees. The folded plate roof structure, reminiscent of the residential roofs of the neighborhood, is separated from the masonry base with a band of glass giving the roof a “suspended” quality. Looking up at the library, one will see the wood decking of the roof structure which glows at night, giving the library a “tree house” feel.
The library is an open, flexible space where collections are defined by roof forms and some low walls. This is a LEED Silver facility.
