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Architecture Planning Interior Design Library Portfolio
Our Firm
CBLH Design is a proven leader in architecture, planning and interior design. For over fifty years, our firm has established successful partnerships with clients to create environments for communities to meet, create, learn and heal. Led by principals Mike Liezert, Jeff Valus and Scott Weaver, we strive to deliver unique and creative solutions to every owner and project. Our mission is to improve lives through design for our clients and their communities.
Architecture
Our firm has a celebrated history of producing award winning designs for our clients and partners. This is achievable through a successful practice of collaboration and communication from project inception through completion. We strive to continually improve our process to bring our clients the most responsive solution possible that reflects their goals, objectives, mission and values.
Interior Design
We believe that the built environment should provide a positive experience for any user or visitor to the space. Carefully responding with materials, colors, textures and scale, we create atmospheres that support the intended mission of the overall design and journey of its inhabitants.
Planning
The execution of successful architecture relies on an understanding of the needs of the spaces we are creating. Developing the program of requirements for the building, campus or community is the fundamental base to every great project. We work with our clients to develop a unique program to ensure their vision is implemented throughout the design process.
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Architectural Services
Successful execution of a program requires strong planning - both functionally and aesthetically - as well as rigorous adherence to cost and schedule parameters set forth in the client’s program requirements. In addition, responsive service means solid project management with an ability to infuse the many objectives of administrators, facilities managers, and others into a project cohesively and on budget. CBLH Design’s project managers are senior professionals with extensive portfolios in directing projects and in meeting client expectations effectively.
Our services include:
Architectural
Programming & Space Requirements
Space Utilization
Master Planning
Conceptual Design
Design Development
Sustainable Design/LEED Certification
Related Services
ADA Compliance
Ohio Building Code (OBC) Surveys
Scale Models
Aerial Drone Multimedia Capture & Site
Exploration
Construction Drawings
Specifications
Code Evaluation
Construction Cost Estimating
Interior Design
Furnishings, Accessories and Art
Graphics & Signage Design
3D Renderings & Animations
Providing World Class Library Design
Every building type is unique, just as every book is unique. We believe that every building should consider the necessities of the client and the program. A library should reflect on the specific needs of bringing the public together for academic scholarship and the distribution of information. In addition, each library should address its individual philosophies and recognize the unique aspects of the staff, patrons and community.
Elyria Public Library System-Wide Redesign - Multiple Branches
CBLH Design worked for the Elyria Public Library System on the design of four of their branch libraries which include a new facility, an addition and two renovations as well as a distribution maintenance center. The project includes the following features:
Central Branch - With a budget of $8.85 million, a new 22,000 SF facility was built on a new site. The branch includes a large meeting room and a digital makerspace with a focus on STREAM. The design for this building included children’s area with story time space, teen area, community meeting space, staff areas and collections.
Keystone Branch - This project included the renovation of the existing building and a new addition, which increased the size of the library to 5,990 SF. This project is on a rural site and had a $2 million budget. The primary focuses of the project included meeting rooms and separate areas for children’s, teens and adult spaces.
South Branch - An adaptive reuse project, this branch is now housed in a former dairy processing facility. The renovation of the 8,000 SF building had a $1.9 million budget. The primary focus was additional youth programs and makerspaces for vocational trade activities.
West River Branch - This project is an interior renovation of the 30,000 SF building. The construction budget for this branch was $750,000. The circulation, children’s and reference desks as well as the furniture plan were revised during the design to accommodate social distancing due to the coronavirus pandemic of 2020.
Taylor Street Facility - This project was a renovation for the system’s distribution maintenance center.
Location
Elyria, Ohio
Area of Project
More than 63,900 SF
Cost of Construction
$13.3 Million
©2021 Christian Phillips Photography
Elyria Public Library
Central Branch
As part of a system-wide improvement plan, CBLH designed a new Central Branch Library; relocating the building to the eastern edge of downtown Elyria. The 22,000 SF building sits adjacent to the city’s Pioneer Plaza which allows it to take advantage of the open green-space in the center of an urban environment.
The new Central Branch Library serves as a vital primary point of information for the system by offering the largest collection of materials and access to adult, children’s, teens and senior programs from its new premier downtown location. Designed with flexibility in mind, the spacious building features a raised floor which allows library staff to easily adapt to changing programs while providing specific areas for patrons to choose from such as a quiet reading room, makerspace, storytime rooms, private study rooms and a career center.
A large 100-person seat meeting room with multi-media capabilities is included. The administrative offices are tucked behind the highly visible circulation desk which has views of both entrances, the entire library floor and the drive-through services window.
The exterior of the building respects the important urban location on which it sits and creates a new gateway to the city from the east. The choice of both cleft faces and smooth stone, as well as the vertical deep-set windows that help protect the materials within the structure, resonate with the surrounding historic Elyria public buildings. The east and west entrances echo the prominence that has proceeded this building and give way into a modest yet open lobby featuring local artist work. The west entrance faces the main parking lot. It also extends to the north to create a covered walkway that encourages pedestrians off of Broad Street and the green-space to enter the branch. The walkway also features a rotating collection of works created by local artists in prepared niches.
Location
Elyria, Ohio
Area of Project 22,000 SF
Cost of Construction
$8.85 Million
©2021 Christian Phillips Photography
Geauga County Public Library
System-Wide Redesign - Multiple Branches
CBLH Design partnered with the Geauga County Public Library System on the design of four branch libraries.
Bainbridge Branch Library - This new 30,000 SF facility replaced an outdated facility. The project was driven by new technology for a growing young community. The makerspace includes 3D and vinyl printers. Multiple meeting rooms of different sizes were designed for this location. They include: a conference room with a kitchenette; a massive divisible community meeting space with digital AV and hearing loops; and numerous spaces to accommodate four, six and eight patrons at a time. Different color banquettes and lighting provide wayfinding for individual spaces such as the adult’s and children’s departments; the market place; assisted check-out and the central collaborative spaces, which feature all-mobile furniture for flexibility. The project was completed within its construction budget of $10.9 million.
Thompson Branch Library - This library moved to a new location to better respect the rural roots of the community. The 8,500 SF branch includes dedicated reading spaces for both children and adults as well as two study rooms that offer quiet, glass-enclosed spaces for small gatherings. A large multi-media conference room is available for patrons. A long linear thoroughfare serves as a path to easily connect all spaces through a centrally located circulation desk. The branch sits atop a five-acre property formerly occupied by Thompson School, which originated in the late 1890s. In tribute to the site and the library’s strong ties to the local schools, the old school bell hangs over the entry door to the multi-media conference room. This project is complete and had a construction budget of $4.1 million.
Middlefield Branch Library - The Middlefield Branch caters to both the Amish and Non-Amish communities. The renovation involved most of the library’s public space including modernized express check-out systems, new circulation and reference desks, new study rooms, two dedicated meeting spaces and refreshing of the existing finishes throughout. This phased project is complete and had a construction budget of $687,910.
Geauga West Branch Library - This project focused on updating the facility’s infrastructure as well as providing new study rooms and public space for library patrons. The new outdoor area provides a concrete enclosed patio and trellised reading and gathering area for the community to enjoy northeast Ohio summers. This 3,500 SF phased project is complete and had a construction budget of $464,147.
The work for the Geauga County Public Library System was performed in partnership with Perkins&Will.
Location
Geauga County, Ohio
Area of Project
Over 53,000 SF
Cost of Construction
$20.5 Million
Geauga County Public Library
Bainbridge Branch
Bainbridge Library serves Geauga County’s fastest growing and urbanizing district and replaces the outgrown 10,000 SF facility that sits on the southeast corner of the site.
Following the natural topography, the building is divided into four wings: an adult wing, a children’s wing, a service and staff wing, and a community meeting wing. The economical, low-profile library building nestles into the rolling topography, but the roofline dramatically lifts up at the entry to welcome patrons while revealing the warmth of a wood-lined entry vestibule. Designed for maximum flexibility, the library spaces are comprised of “bars” of clustered rooms and a large open volume that can be functionally zoned and re-zoned through furniture and lighting accents. Roll-down security shutters segregate the library space from meeting and pre-function areas to allow for gathering and events to occur outside of library hours.
Set on a half-developed and half-wooded site in a district that is transitioning from rural township to an extended Cleveland suburb, the building helps tell this story of growth and development. The library straddles two site conditions: the man-made “orchard” on one side and the untamed “forest” on the other.
Celebrating nature while providing a modern experience were important goals for the community. Arriving visitors approach the library through a tree lined drive and parking area planted like a rationally ordered orchard. An elevated terrace extends outside the end of the adult wing where patrons can sit fifteen feet above the ground and read in the dappled light of the tree canopy itself.
The work for the Geauga County Public Library System was performed in partnership with Perkins&Will.
Location
Bainbridge, Ohio
Area of Project 30,000 SF
Cost of Construction
$15 Million
Geauga County Public Library Thompson Branch
Prairie barns, crib barns, and bank barns punctuate the landscape of this rural township in Geauga County, Ohio. Just as the barn has consistently adapted and innovated over time, the library has transformed as both an information hub and a civic gathering place. Now it is filled with daylight, tools and resources to whet the community’s appetite for knowledge and connecting. The interior is simple and intuitive. One gabled volume features adult collections and services while the other gabled volume hosts children’s collections and programming along with a 50-person community meeting space. The central connecting piece is an economical volume that houses support staff behind a central service point and all of the building’s infrastructure.
In keeping with the functional and hand-made spirit of the agrarian township, the interior is a simple palette of light and dark natural materials punctuated by more textured destinations.
The building rests at the north end of a boot-shaped property that maximizes open space to the south and east while connecting to the Township’s main road at the “boot strap”. Parking and entry are on the south side to protect visitors from harsh northern winds and the snow drifts they bring. The library’s open gable ends afford east facing views onto a rolling meadow surrounded by woods. Patrons are invited to step into nature on an expansive terrace that can also host indoor/outdoor events and programming. The west facing gable welcomes approaching visitors by framing children’s activities by day and glowing like a welcoming lantern after twilight.
The work for the Geauga County Public Library System was performed in partnership with Perkins&Will.
Location
Thompson, Ohio
Area of Project
8,500 SF
Cost of Construction
$4.5 Million
Heights Libraries
University Heights Library Addition and Renovation
The University Heights Branch Library began as a 11,700 SF facility on Cedar Road in the 1950’s. It was the eastern most branch of the Heights Library System, located on one of the busiest streets in one of the area’s fastest growing communities. As University Heights enjoyed widespread growth, the library began to provide more services for the surrounding community. Unfortunately, the building seemed to get lost in the commercial development that happened in the area during the 1970’s and 1980’s.
The library desired a refresh and needed additional space but was faced with limited physical area. However, it was able to acquire nearby properties which allowed for expansion and increased parking. Our team was responsible for both the reimaging of the original structure and the expansion. Replacing the heavy front façade facing Cedar Road with full height glass allowed the library to be more open and inviting to the community and encourage the public to better see the offerings inside. This open concept was incorporated into the new 10,700 SF addition at the back of the building to visually connect the spaces.
The much needed addition created space for meeting and study rooms, additional collection and reading areas, an ADA restroom and elevator. The feature of the new addition is the children’s area including a storytime room which was designed using a map theme with a large compass rose suspended in the open ceiling. A new dedicated teen room is adjacent to this space.
Location
University Heights, Ohio
Area of Project
11,700 SF Renovation
10,700 SF Addition
Cost of Construction
$4.3 Million
Akron-Summit County Public Library Richfield Branch
CBLH Design was selected to design the Richfield Branch Library for the AkronSummit County Public Library system, a rapidly expanding municipal service of Summit County. The design concept for this library is meant to be instructive for its users as well as entertaining.
Important aspects of the project include functionality, building image, schedule and budget. The design solution allows for good sight lines to all points of the library from the circulation desk, a rural “barn like” design to blend in with the rich history of the surrounding community as well as standard construction methods to aid in the budget and construction schedule.
In addition to meeting the typical needs of the patrons, the building also enlightens its visitors on how barns were constructed while utilizing modern materials.
Location Richfield, Ohio
Area of Project 12,000 SF
Cost of Construction
$1,519,000 (including furnishings)
Ritter Public Library LEED Gold Addition and Renovation
Ritter’s proud history dates to the early 1900s and it became an official library in 1918. The library rented or shared various spaces until it constructed a small brick structure in 1943. While championed by many residents throughout its founding, in the 1950s George Ritter became the library’s most influential historical benefactor. Mr. Ritter, who made his fortune helping reorganize the company that later become Jeep, offered to fund, a new, larger building for the library as a tribute to his parents.
The building was federal-style with large columns across the front, incorporated limestone and pink marble, had separate adult and children areas and a community room. A small addition in the early 1980s created another entrance and more meeting space. In the mid-2000s, the library again looked to expand to better serve the Vermilion community.
CBLH Design was contracted to perform an analysis of the existing building and develop a program of service for an expansion and renovation. Assessments were conducted architecturally and systemically, the existing collection was surveyed, conceptual sketches were developed and growth factors applied. Models and renderings were developed and we assisted the library in successful passage of a bond issue to fund the expansion.
The resulting project was a 17,130 sf renovation and 18,000 sf addition that complemented the historic structure while also being contemporary. A new community room, more meeting spaces, a computer lab and expanded areas for children, teens, and adults were included. A wide range of technologies and strategies were incorporated for energy efficiency, water savings, and indoor environmental quality.
A vegetative planted roof that serves as an educational tool to demonstrate reduction of rainwater run-off and heat island effect is visible from the second floor. The use of low-flow plumbing fixtures and a rainwater cistern allow the building to use only a quarter as much water as a normal structure. Energy savings are also realized from the VRF HVAC system, insulation and efficient windows. These measures, along with many others, led the US Green Building Council to recognize Ritter as the first Ohio public library certified as LEED Gold.
CBLH continues our relationship with Ritter in 2021 by assisting them with additional interior improvements including renovating computer and fiction areas, community spaces and service desk / self-checkout stations
Location
Vermilion, Ohio
Area of Project
17,130 SF Renovation
18,100 SF Addition
Cost of Construction
$4.9 Million
Lakewood Public Library Addition and Renovation
Lakewood Public Library is an Andrew Carnegie 1908 building that has been added onto three times. Our project involved a 45,000 SF addition and total renovation and infrastructure replacement of the existing 50,000 SF structure.
Robert A.M. Stern Architects was selected to design the project. CBLH Design teamed with them to produce the contract documents, manage the structural, civil, mechanical and electrical engineering consultants and to provide contract administration services.
The design involved restoration of the existing structure’s facade and is sympathetic to the existing classical architectural style while giving the addition and renovation a fresh architectural statement. The project is designed using LEED certifiable principles and materials respecting the Library Board’s desire to be as environmentally friendly as possible.
Location
Lakewood, Ohio
Area of Project
45,000 SF Addition
50,000 SF Renovation
Project Cost
$15.6 Million
Project with Robert A.M. Stern Architects
