Civic
CIVIC
South Coastal Library
- Project: South Coastal Library
- Square Footage: 21,000 square feet
- Scope of Work: StudioJAED is providing design and documentation, including architecture and engineering services, for various capital improvement projects throughout Sussex County. Our scope of services ranges from planning and programming, to design and construction inspection. The range of projects allow for a great deal of creativity to solve various fundamental design problems.
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One of the first projects underway in the program is the South Coastal Library. The project includes a 10,000 square foot addition, as well as complete renovations to the existing 10,000 square foot building. The project is expected to be completed in 2008.
StudioJAED and ikon.5 architects in Princeton, New Jersey, collaboratively led the design process, which was committed to abandoning the concept of a conventional library. We sought to create library space by temporarily laying claim to a location, similar to how a beach-goer would stake claim in the sand with an umbrella. Much like the beach, a library is home to a transient community, which is manifested in the South Coastal Library's architecture through a large pavilion structure with exposed structural steel framing and the use of large, expansive glass. The library addition embraces the landscape and captures scenic views, while making a clean connection to the existing facility.
We focused on an extensive dialogue between Sussex County officials, the librarians, staff, and the end-users, as represented by the Friends of the South Coastal Library, to successfully create a design that effectively and creatively meets the needs of the residents.