The Reby Cary Youth Library, located in Fort Worth, Texas, celebrated its grand opening on Aug. 14. The project, named after civil rights pioneer and educator Reby Cary, is the first public library for children and youth in Fort Worth.
The $5.49 million, KAI-designed project includes activity stations, bright colors, interactive art installations, and cozy cubbies. Amenities include a large outdoor sensory garden, a maker space with technology and creative activities, and multiple study rooms. The library forgoes tall bookshelves and hardback chairs typical of traditional libraries and instead opts for lower shelving and seating designed to encourage families to read together.
The design team worked closely with artist Creative Machines to create an interactive public art installation. Dubbed “Only Connect,” the installation is suspended from the ceiling and made up of over 20,000 glass marbles and cascading LED lights. Visitors can manipulate the artwork’s lighted colors and patterns through the simple touch of a button and sensor points distributed throughout the library.
In addition to providing architectural and interior design services, KAI also coordinated the civil, landscape, structural/mechanical/electrical.plumbing engineering, fire protection, audio-visual, lighting, technology and cost estimating services through various teaming partners.
In addition to KAI, the build team also included FPI Builders as the general contractor.
Related Stories
| Nov 9, 2010
Designing a library? Don’t focus on books
How do you design a library when print books are no longer its core business? Turn them into massive study halls. That’s what designers did at the University of Amsterdam, where they transformed the existing 27,000-sf library into a study center—without any visible books. About 2,000 students visit the facility daily and encounter workspaces instead of stacks.
| Nov 3, 2010
Seattle University’s expanded library trying for LEED Gold
Pfeiffer Partners Architects, in collaboration with Mithun Architects, programmed, planned, and designed the $55 million renovation and expansion of Lemieux Library and McGoldrick Learning Commons at Seattle University. The LEED-Gold-designed facility’s green features include daylighting, sustainable and recycled materials, and a rain garden.
| Oct 13, 2010
Bookworms in Silver Spring getting new library
The residents of Silver Spring, Md., will soon have a new 112,000-sf library. The project is aiming for LEED Silver certification.
| Aug 11, 2010
JE Dunn, Balfour Beatty among country's biggest institutional building contractors, according to BD+C's Giants 300 report
A ranking of the Top 50 Institutional Contractors based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit http://www.BDCnetwork.com/Giants
| Aug 11, 2010
Jacobs, Arup, AECOM top BD+C's ranking of the nation's 75 largest international design firms
A ranking of the Top 75 International Design Firms based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit http://www.BDCnetwork.com/Giants
| Aug 11, 2010
Harvard Public Library
Harvard, Mass.
Five years ago, the town of Harvard, Mass., which lies about 30 miles west of Boston, faced two problems. First, its iconic public schoolhouse, known as Old Bromfield, which was built in 1877, had become outdated. So, too, had its public library, which had no room to grow on its site.
| Aug 11, 2010
Gilbane, Whiting-Turner among nation's largest university contractors, according to BD+C's Giants 300 report
A ranking of the Top 50 University Contractors based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit /giants
