Location: Virginia Beach, VA
As the first joint-use library in the state, the new Learning Resource Center is a focus of academic distinction and sustainable integrity. The idea of joint usage is to build a combined facility that stimulates life-long learning and encourages social interaction as a method of teaching. Shared between Tidewater Community College and the City of Virginia Beach, this technology-centric library houses study rooms with flat screens for student laptops and collaboration areas with special furniture and software designed for group collaboration. There are over 380 public access computers, self-checkout equipment, display areas, meeting rooms and an integrated café and lounge area with a fireplace.
The building’s design responds to its unique site on an abandoned agricultural field’s system of hedgerows and creates ample opportunity to invite light into the space. The design is spread over two floors that are strongly vertically connected. The floor openings occur along the major circulation spine to enhance wayfinding and optimize the use of natural daylighting. The building is sited so it can expand horizontally by another 50,000 square feet if needed in the future.
The joint-use library is LEED Gold certified.
