East Columbia Library
Columbia, Maryland
Awards:
• AIA Council Honor Award for
Architectural Excellence,
AIA Potomac Valley Chapter
• AIA Honor Award for Architectural
Excellence,
AIA Maryland State
• Grand Award of Excellence, National
Commercial Builders
• Masonry Shield Award, Masonry
Institute Inc.
• Masonry Design Award, Masonry
Institute Inc.
A new "destination library" for Howard County; the 46,000 g.s.f. branch is the largest library in the system and houses the central office team.
An open and inviting public atmosphere is created that co-exists with the necessary behind-the-scenes functions.
Public library functions are housed in a dramatic volume enclosed by sweeping curved glass curtain walls facing the community. This volume contains reading areas, stacks, an information center, and the children’s library.
Acoustic zoning allows for noiser functions at the central information center with quieter areas at the perimeter. The library was constructed for public internet access with over 100 computer stations.
A children’s library is housed separately, within, for quiet and safety. The “Rain Forest” entry connects the children to the “City” media stacks, the “County” play area, and to the “Oceans” of books stacks “around the of the world” of the library information desk.
The building includes a traditional front section of library central offices, senior center, and multipurpose community rooms. The public meeting rooms are zoned for use when the library is closed.
Collection Size: 140,000 items
