This new 40,000 SF library serves the Mount Pleasant and Carolina Park communities, highlighting a connection to the surrounding site through interior, exterior, and landscape design strategies. The interior materials palette references wood, bark, water, natural light, sun, and even growing grass in the Children’s Wing. Clerestory windows allow daylighting throughout, and each wing offers seating along expansive windows with views to nature, trees, and the wetlands beyond. A large outdoor space features a large tree with landscaped berm seating for outdoor gathering or quiet reading.

A children’s wing with a reading oculus, story time room, and pop-out window seats is visible from the library exterior, generating excitement and engagement from the entry as children identify their dedicated space. Other program spaces include an adult wing, young adult wing, café, computers with computer instruction space, meeting and group study rooms, and a large meeting room which is also suitable for public events. An automated Material Handling machine puts state-of-the-art technology front and center, and a self check-out helps to streamline the visitor experience.

RECOGNITIONS: 2021 AIA SC Interior Architecture Citation Award; 2020 Vision Design Awards Floor Focus Honorable Mention, Education Category; 2020 AIA SC New Construction Merit Award