Appaloosa Branch Library Scottsdale, Arizona MCLEAN CASE STUDY: Asa Champ, Duha Hassan, Lucy Yang
General Information Location: 7377 E Silverstone Dr, Scottsdale, Arizona, 85255 Parcel: 212-02-001L Owner: City of Scottsdale Completion Date: November 2009 Size: 21,500 sq ft; 4.5 acres of land LEED Gold Certification: March 10, 2010
MODEL REPRESENTATION
Historical Development
Appaloosa Site, January-March 1969
Appaloosa Site, December 1979
Appaloosa Site, September-December 2019
Appaloosa Design Team Scottsdale Public Library Staff
Paragon Structural Engineering, Inc.
Scottsdale Planning Department
GBtwo Landscape Architecture, Inc.
DWL Architects + Planners, Inc.
Jacobs Engineering (civil engineering)
Douglas Sydnor Architect and Associates
Green Ideas - LEED Consultant
Knipp Design Associates, Inc. (interior design)
LSW Engineers Arizona, Inc. (mechanical, electrical, plumbing engineering)
Haydon Building Corp (CM@Risk) Anna Skibska (public artist)
City’s vs Architects’ Objectives City of Scottsdale ● ●
Name all public library branches after horses to symbolize freedom and movement Require new city buildings to be LEED gold-level certifiable
Architects Jeremy Jones (DWL Architects) and Douglas Sydnor (DSAA) ●
Concept of mirage through coated color-shifting metal panels, non-uniform roof profile, and building’s appearance to float
Non-uniform roof profile
Color-shifting metal panels
entryway
Floating building
South elevation of Appaloosa Library
Context PROS: -
Assisted living within 10 minutes walking distance Nearby plaza with grocery store, restaurants, bars Apartment complex nearby brings young families to the library
CONS: -
Walk score: 32/100. car dependent neighbourhood
Sun Study and Lighting Strategies NE Facade NE Softest and most consistent lighting
E Facade Areas of Sunset East Areas of Sunrise
Areas of Sunrise
Areas of Sunset
Sun Study and Lighting Strategies South Facade -
Area of most heat gain and sunlight MATERIAL -
-
WINDOW PLACEMENT -
-
Metal finish refract infrared light and heat Aesthetically pleasing Little to no windows to prevent heat gain
STRATEGIES -
Receded and shaded doorway cool exterior openings Vertical garden to naturally cool entrance
Natural Light Floor Plan
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Yellow = primary area receiving natural light
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Blue = secondary area receiving natural light
Space Planning -
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Administration is condensed into one area Service areas are placed further away from high traffic areas. -
Prevents unwanted sounds, smells etc.
Space Planning CONS: -
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Children’s area is placed too close to quiet areas. Lack of noise reduction strategies. -
Users have complained about noise travel.
QUIET AREA
Circulation
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Main room has most foot traffic
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Rooms on edge no longer used as much during covid
Green Design ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
LEED Gold Certified, 42 points attempted 31% less energy and 53% less water than a conventional library 95% of leftover construction materials were recycled Windows and color-shifting metal panels have infrared-reflective coating White roof and gravel parking area minimized albedo 56% certified sustainably harvested wood Over 26% regionally sourced materials R-19 wall insulation spun from recycled blue jeans
Other Design Elements ● ● ● ●
Raised floor accommodates future duct changes Two folding walls allow for reconfigured spaces Meeting rooms can be opened to accommodate up to 100 people North wall with square and rectangle windows spell out “The Appaloosa Library” in Morse Code
Public Art Golden Alchemy by Anna Skibska
Skibska, Anna. Golden Alchemy. 2009. Glass orbs.
Public Art Shedding Light by Mayme Kratz
Kratz, Mayme. Shedding Light. 2007. Amber resin, organic material, paper.
User Complaints of the Appaloosa Library LIGHTING -
So much natural lighting that the design did not take into account for the workers after daylight hours.
MAINTENANCE -
Many materials and parts from overseas; getting replacements is difficult
COVID ADAPTATIONS -
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Was not able to adapt well to covid. At the time of our visit, they had just opened for two weeks. Quiet room, children’s space, and conference rooms were closed for public use. -
Too small to maintain social distancing.
References ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Appaloosa Library Branch Manager, Sky Larsen https://www.dsydnorarchitect.org/work#/scottsdale-appaloosa-branch-library/ https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/AssetFactory.aspx?did=38515 http://www.rachelluptak.com/eastward/2h3md001bfmb5rn1o1vjy9jdqvipas https://www.dwlarchitects.com/projects/appaloosa-branch-library/ https://designandbuildwithmetal.com/featured-projects/appaloosa-branch-library https://www.codaworx.com/projects/appaloosa-library-scottsdale-public-art/ http://annaskibska.com/golden-alchemy/ https://scottsdalepublicart.org/work/shedding-light/ https://www.maymekratz.com/copy-of-11-garden-wall https://gis.maricopa.gov/GIO/HistoricalAerial/index.html https://lib.asu.edu/indigenous-land-acknowledgement