Dallas Public Library Lochwood Branch in Dallas, Texas by Meyer Scherer & Rockcastle Architects

Bounded by a strip mall, apartment complex, and residential neighborhood (and including an existing YMCA gymnasium), the site for this new branch library presented significant contextual opportunities. The design centers on addressing each context, as well as the library’s programming needs, through directing and screening views and considering varied levels of scale.

South Apartments

• Architects: Meyer Scherer & Rockcastle Architects
• Project: Dallas Public Library Lochwood Branch
• Location: Dallas, Texas
• Credits: Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle, Ltd., Architect & Interior Designer
• Year: 2009
• Area: 20,000 square-feet
• Photo credits: Charles Davis Smith
• Collaborators: FKP Architects, Inc., Associate Architect, M.E.P. Consulting Engineers, Inc., Mechanical/Electrical Engineers, Datum Gojer Engineers, LLC, Structural Engineer, Pacheco Koch Consulting Engineers, Inc., Civil Engineer, Talley Associates, Inc., Landscape Architect, J.C. Commercial, General Contractor

Directed View

The zinc-clad library hovers above a glass base, a contrast to the solid form of a black box theater (within the old YMCA, a resource-saving reuse strategy). Views are carefully considered to focus on the tree canopy and foreground landscape, avoiding less favorable context and providing privacy to neighboring homes. Open sightlines provide easy wayfinding for patrons and supervision for staff. The new library’s dynamic design elements and massing offer a distinct, refreshing contrast to the banal retail and residential buildings in the neighborhood.

East Mall

Sustainable strategies include:

• On-site stormwater management.
• Native, drought-tolerant landscape.
• Heat island mitigation.
• Regional and recycled building materials.
• High-efficiency envelope and HVAC systems.
• Daylight harvesting.
• Light pollution reduction.
• Energy purchased from renewable sources.
• Natural ventilation and high indoor air quality.
• Water-saving fixtures.

Dallas Public Library

Scaled View

North Residential

Screened View

Service Desk

Interior View

Black Box Theater

Dallas Public Library

Tags: Dallas, Texas

Category: Library

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