DESIGN CONTEXT
Located on Main Street of this
young community, the city desired
an architecture that would anchor
the street and create a cultural
identity for future civic buildings.
METHODOLOGY
A highly interactive process of
community engagement was implemented
through a series of open
conversations with citizens under the
theme everyone is a designer. The intimate residential scale of the community, the
history of aviation in the region, the idea of an open, flexible library as a community center, the accessibility of programs for families and the importance of the South Texas sky and quality of light, were identified as guiding principals of design through these conversations.
SOLUTIONS
The volume of the space is open and flexible, efficient in its organization for library
services, but accommodating to a variety of community and family functions.
The entry is focused on a traditional South Texas plaza rendered in an ellipse and
anchored by a young oak tree, the gift of a broad based group of citizen/donors.
The silhouette and materials wood siding, limestone, galvanized metal are traditional and residential at the street facade, giving way to a more dynamic and sculptural feeling as you enter the space. The roofline of the building underscores the progressive, aspirational values of Schertz. A monumental glass wall on the buildings northern elevation imbues the entire space with a beautiful quality of light at all times during the librarys operations.