Arabian Library Scottsdale, LEED Certified Arizona architecture images, richärd+bauer Architects design
Arabian Library, Scottsdale, Arizona
Contemporary Architecture in USA design by richärd+bauer
May 25, 2011
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
Date built: 2007
Design: richärd+bauer
Arabian Library in Scottsdale
Photos by Bill Timmerman
Arabian Library Scottsdale Building
The building is a remembrance of the desert slot canyons of northern Arizona and monument valley, capturing the powerful and unique experience between the compressive stone walls and the ultimate release to the sky above. Ever-patient threads of water, sculpting and polishing the massive walls, cut these natural sandstone canyons over millennia. Harder stone and slow water sharply defines vertical slivers while softer stone gives way to wider crevasse.
The library echoes this powerful natural sequence. An earthen and stone roof is thrust from the desert floor, taking with it the native grasses, shrub and stone texture. Organized about a central court, the building is entered through a “slot canyon” of steel and glass. Walls of weathered steel plate reflect the terra-cotta walls of stone as they lean overhead and fall away from the entry path and open to the sky above.
The weathered steel walls of the building support an earthen and stone roof, planted with native vegetation and stone from the site. Two roof gardens will contain desert variety trees and groundcovers’, recalling the surface level vegetation as one descends into the canyon.
A continuous thread of water echo’s the natural erosion of the canyon wall creating the powerful imagery of the building, and eventually pooling in the lower edge of the courtyard. A singular tree is the focus of the space. This centralized court will be used as a pre-function and program spaces for the library and meeting rooms. Two slender “canyon courts” flank the west and south sides of the building, expanding library lounge spaces to the exterior and ultimately opening the building to the sky and desert floor again.
The LEED Certified building incorporates a subfloor mechanical, electrical and data distribution system, providing long-term flexibility in a rapidly changing informational environment. Air stratification techniques minimize the cooling demand on high volume spaces while maximizing patron comfort.
The building is lined with perforated hardboard and recycled cotton insulation to accommodate acoustical properties while reinforcing the homogenous notion of the canyon walls. A series of architectural ledges give way to internal clerestories, introducing daylight to the center of the space. The unique program of the library is based on contemporary bookstore concepts, and includes the popular library as well as café and bookstore elements.
images : Mark Boisclair
Arabian Library Scottsdale – Building Information
Project name: Arabian Library, LEED Certified
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Size: 20,875 ssqft
Cost: $7.4m
Completion Date: Aug 2007
Construction Delivery Method: Design, bid, build
Owner: City of Scottsdale
Contractor: Redden Construction
Professional Photography:
Bill Timmerman, Timmerman Photography, Inc. (exterior photography)
Mark Boisclair, Mark Boisclair Photography, Inc. (interior photography)
Arabian Library Scottsdale – Design Team
Key Team Members: James E. Richard, AIA Designer & Principal in Charge. Kelly Bauer, FIIDA Project Manager + Interior Design. Steve Kennedy, AIA, NCARB Project Architect & CA, Ben Perrone, Project Architect, Stacey Crumbaker Interior Design
Kunka Engineering Inc. (Mechanical + Plumbing), OMB Electrical Engineers (Electrical), Caruso Turley Scott, Inc. (Structural Engineer), PKLAND Engineering (Civil Engineering), EGroup (Landscape Architect), Norie Sato (Artist)
Arabian Library Scottsdale – Building Awards
2005 AIA Western Mountain Region: Citation unbuilt
2006 ALA/IIDA Honor: On the Boards
2006 IIDA SW Chapter: PRIDE Award: On the Boards
2008 ALA/IIDA Honor: Public Libraries 30,00 sqft.-smaller
2008 IIDA/Metropolis Smart Environments Award
2008 IIDA SW Chapter PRIDE Award Design Excellence for Public Facility
2008 IIDA SW Chapter PRIDE Award Design Excellence for Single Space, Teen Square
2008 Valley Forward Environmental Design: Merit
2008 AIA Arizona: Honor
2008 AIA Western Mountain Region: Honor
2008 AIA/IIDA: Best of Competition
2008 Metropolis 3rd Annual Smart Environments Award Winner
2009 AIA/ALA National Honor Award
Arabian Library Scottsdale images / information from richärd+bauer architects USA
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona, United States of America
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