Almonte Public Library Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
A library that embodies and welcomes the surrounding community by reflecting their culture.
Location
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Sector
Arts
Service
Architecture
Client
Metropolitan Library System
Status
Completed
Size
20,000 SF
The Almonte Library connects the diverse community it serves with the necessary resources and experiences to educate and enrich lives. The newly designed space puts people within the community first by fostering equity, diversity and inclusion. The library’s design emphasizes bold colors, culturally meaningful patterns, and thoughtful details, creating an inviting space that resonates with the predominantly Vietnamese and Mexican community, making them feel welcome and at home.
To achieve total flexibility and support future expansion, the majority of the library was designed as an open loft-like space that houses the adult, teen, and children’s collections on one level. All of the spaces that need to be enclosed are organized behind a single wall running down the center of the building. These include the makerspace, media lab, staff workspace, meeting rooms, and other building support spaces.
The storefront-like glazing on the east and south creates transparency and conveys a sense of activity and opportunities for library users both in and out of the building. This neighborhood has a significant customer base that relies upon public transportation and pedestrian access to the library. A colorful covered tipped-up front porch with casual seating welcomes patrons and visitors while guiding them to the front entry, visible to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. A convenient drive-thru drop off and holds pick up loop circles the building.
