Fairfield Area Library
Henrico, Virginian
- Architect of Record: Quinn Evans
- Library Planning & Design Architect: Tappé Architects
- Our 4th collaboration with Quinn Evans for Henrico County Public Libraries
- (Gayton, Libbie Mill, Varina)
"I'm writing from Fairfield Library--where I made my way to today to get some work done away from the office--and I'm blown away. What an awe-inspiring resource you and your team have created. I really don't know where to start with my praise... the corten planters, landscaping and domestically scaled and therefore close to home slate? The program informed by Du Bois and Washington? The steel stairs with the yellow treads that looks like you could chew on it? The skylight apertures in the children's area? The felt lamps, all of the inventive sound attenuation? I could go on and on. Please relay my sincere (and humbled) congratulations to your team."
Designed in collaboration with Quinn Evans Architects, the new 44,000sf Fairfield Area Library is a center of opportunity and a hub for learning for the community. The Design Team held several neighborhood stakeholder meetings to generate a solution that responds to the unique needs and aspirations of the surrounding population. Core spaces in the facility will focus on teaching life skills and family connectedness – ideals the community agreed were important to elevate.
Entering the two-story space at the intersection of 2 large masses, library patrons navigate flawlessly to the community meeting areas, Adult spaces or the Children and Teen’s spaces on the 2nd floor. Multipurpose rooms and outdoor spaces are available for programmed or ad hoc activities. A unique feature to a Henrico County Library, the one-button recording studio will allow the public to record personal histories. On the upper floor, the thresholds to the Teen and Children’s Areas are connected by a collaboration space, whose primary use is to function as a central gathering space for parents and caregivers. Outfitted with lounge seating and tables & chairs, and supported by technology, it is intended as a space for informal gathering and productive work. The site will have an outdoor entry plaza, a bicycle and pedestrian pathway to Harvie Road, with room for an additional 16,000 sqft addition.
henricolibrary.org/fairfieldImages by Tzu Chen Photography ©
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