CLIENT PROJECT
LIBRARY DESIGN
location: san diego, ca The developer wished to reposition an existing multibuilding office campus into a life science and technology hub in the heart of San Diego’s active Life Science community. In an effort to market the leasable space, the developer also sought to amenitize the property to attract tenants and gain the reputation as the go-to location for work and play. The repositioning effort includes a new site events lawn, which spills out from a new patio and chef-driven concept restaurant. Additionally, the restaurant is connected to a new stat-of-the-art conferencing center which functions as overflow dining, conference, and events space. A
new yoga and flex fitness space has also been added to the programming to maximize on the Owner’s healthconscious focus for tenant amenities
OUR FIRM Founded in 1946, PGAL is a national firm with 12 offices specializing in architecture, interiors, engineering, and planning. Our design teams research and learn a project’s local context, goals, and needs and seamlessly translate them into highly efficient design solutions. Integrating innovative practices and responsible design solutions into every project results in thoughtfully designed libraries. PGAL strives to support the high level of functionality and accessibility required for these projects while maintaining an aesthetic that inspires those whom the facilities may serve.
CLIENT PROJECT location: san diego, ca
The developer wished to reposition an existing multibuilding office campus into a life science and technology hub in the heart of San Diego’s active Life Science community. In an effort to market the leasable space, the developer also sought to amenitize the property to attract tenants and gain the reputation as the go-to location for work and play. The repositioning effort includes a new site events lawn, which spills out from a new patio and chef-driven concept restaurant. Additionally, the restaurant is connected to a new stat-of-the-art conferencing center which functions as overflow dining, conference, and events space. A
new yoga and flex fitness space has also been added to the programming to maximize on the Owner’s healthconscious focus for tenant amenities
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PROJECT EXPERIENCE Great library design creates an innately flexible setting for stories to be told, imaginations to run wild, and dreams of the future to manifest. A library is more than a space to house curated collections of works; libraries are a destination, an escape, a place of solitude, a lens to the future, and a community gathering place - all wrapped into one. From a child’s first storytime to research for a term paper and leisurely reading of a lifetime learner, libraries require diverse location: san diego, ca spaces to meet each visitor’s unique and personalized needs while also planning for future evolution. The developer wished to reposition an existing multinew yoga and flex fitness space has also been added to building office campus into a life science and technology the programming to maximize on the Owner’s healthhub in the heart of San Diego’s active Life Science conscious focus for tenant amenities community. In an effort to market the leasable space, the developer also sought to amenitize the property to attract tenants and gain the reputation as the go-to location for work and play.
CLIENT PROJECT
The repositioning effort includes a new site events lawn, which spills out from a new patio and chef-driven concept restaurant. Additionally, the restaurant is connected to a new stat-of-the-art conferencing center which functions as overflow dining, conference, and events space. A
CITY OF ROUND ROCK PUBLIC LIBRARY location: round rock, texas The new public library is located one block from the existing library and historic downtown district. The threestory, 67,000 square-foot facility features highly flexible and adaptive spaces such as technology hub, maker space, large multipurpose rooms, quiet reading room, genealogy area, ample study spaces and rooms, a dedicated floor for children and teens, and various elevated outdoor spaces with views to nature and the urban context. Large glass facades and windows provide abundant natural light and draw visitors to connect with nature. The project includes a 300-car smart parking garage for the library and downtown area, which is seamlessly connected via a stair and elevator core that leads to a canopied connector past
a dynamic public courtyard into the library. The public courtyard was designed to allow for a future promenade connection to the existing city hall plaza that is currently in design. Project was designed in association with 720 design who served as library programming/library interior design specialist.
CITY OF PEARLAND WEST PEARLAND LIBRARY location: pearland, texas This 39,000-square-foot, two-story county library is set on a tree-filled site with emphasis on transparency and natural light. The three major components include typical library spaces, meeting spaces for the community and the Brazoria County Tax Office. The library will provide various collaborative spaces, private and group study rooms, a conference room for 16 people, two-story volume space with a “social stair,” ageappropriate environments, and a digital maker room for video/film editing. Uniquely, the lobby is being designed to provide 24/7 access to certain services such as holds, computers, and workstations. The community meeting
spaces include a 100-person teaching theater and a subdividable large multipurpose room. The tax office is offset for easy access to the public while maintaining clear lines of sight for security purposes. The office will be secured before and after business hours while the library is open. The facility embraces its natural surroundings with extensive glazing capturing scenic views and providing an outdoor program terrace/garden and a second story covered balcony.
CITY OF DALLAS J ERIK JONSSON 1ST + 6TH FLOOR location: dallas, texas In 2009, the Dallas Public Library elected to redesign the 80,000-square-foot first floor of the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library to create a “flagship branch” library to serve the growing downtown residential and commercial populations. The first floor project was discontinued early on due to city budgetary issues. In 2018, the Dallas Public Library elected to redesign the 52,000-square-foot sixth floor of the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library to create a center for city life, education and work skills. The city envisioned a job seeker center with work training available as well as an urban gardening resource (The Seed Library). This project
includes elevator upgrades as well as bringing the floor up to ADA standards. Project was designed in association with 720 design who served as library programming/library interior design specialist.
CITY OF CEDAR HILL PUBLIC LIBRARY location: cedar hill, texas In 2020, PGAL was commissioned to design a new library and park located in the City of Cedar Hill, Texas. Cedar Hill is a community approximately 16 miles southwest of downtown Dallas and is situated along the eastern shore of Joe Pool Lake and Cedar Hill State Park. This new Library and Park was designed to reflect the unique needs of the client and to incorporate the natural beauty of the site to create a “Library within a Park”. This region of North Texas is known for its natural beauty being close to Cedar Hill State Park and the design team and client arduously collaborated to seamlessly integrate the architecture with the natural environment. As part of this
integration of natural to artificial the boundary between interior and exterior is intentionally faded. Various interior spaces are designed to be utilized for both interior and exterior functions. Nature is all around on this site and the building design attempts to integrate views to the natural surrounding from various angles and perspectives. One of the unique elements of the Library design is a curved roof that elegantly “floats” above as it provides shelter. It will be a unique building in this natural setting as a butterfly is unique in a meadow of flowers.
TOWN OF LANTANA PUBLIC LIBRARY location: lantana, florida Located along west Ocean Avenue in Lantana, Florida, PGAL will provide design services for the Lantana Public Library that will consist of an interior renovation and expansion of the current facility. The 4,280-square-foot library, which moved into an old bank building in 1996, will get newly expanded ADA restrooms, a children’s room with three computer stations, glass-walled teen area with two computer stations, a new designated Adult reading area, six adult-area computer stations, private study room, new ceiling and lighting, book check out area and a Special Collection room.
The existing drive up teller from the former bank, will be enclosed to become a new 900-square-foot Community room. The Community Room will lead out onto a fenced-in brick-paved Garden Area with seating and new landscaping. The parking lot will be reconfigured to add more parking spaces.
CITY OF SEGUIN SEGUIN PUBLIC LIBRARY location: seguin, texas Located on a wooded site overlooking Walnut Creek, the contemporary two-story structure embraces its scenic natural surroundings. The 43,000-square-foot building was designed to preserve as much of the site’s natural habitat as possible. Shaped to fit within several existing heritage trees and with ample glazing, the building successfully blends exterior and interior environments. The use of local limestone and brick with exposed wood roof decking enrich the exterior, while colored metal panels highlight showcase spaces that project from
the building. Cantilevered decks overlook the adjacent Walnut Creek and intercity hike-and-bike trail and an enclosed quiet room with floor-to-ceiling glass on three sides extends out into the branches of a pecan tree, providing visitors with the experience of sitting in a treehouse. Project was designed in association with 720 design who served as library programming/library interior design specialist.
CITY OF DALLAS FRETZ PARK LIBRARY location: dallas, texas Originally designed in 1976 by the Pierce Lacey Partnership, the Fretz Park Library was a local institution with an aesthetic that worked well with the city’s nearby park and recreation center. The City of Dallas hired PGAL to refresh, renovate, and expand the existing facility in a way that reflects the beloved original design. It was important to the local community to update the facility while maintaining the look and feel of the library they knew and loved. PGAL maintained 75 percent of the original building while delicately adding new spaces, materials, and finishes to enhance the structure. The renovation includes a black box theater equipped with
theater lighting, sound system, flexible stage and seating, a small dressing area, and seating for 80 patrons. PGAL also updated the library’s landscape, interior finishes, accessibility, HVAC, and technology, and made repairs to the exterior of the building.
CITY OF LEAGUE CITY HELEN HALL LIBRARY location: league city, texas The City of League City retained PGAL as prime architects to execute the renovation of the city’s main library facility, PGAL completed the renovation of an approximately 1,970 square foot theater space on the first floor and a 630 square foot teen area on the second floor. The phased construction process required the second floor teen area to be constructed first so the existing teen area on the first floor could make room for the theater area’s expansion. The new theater space is equipped with an enlarged space for movie showings and presentations, a kitchenette, storage rooms, and an office.
Following the renovation of the theater and teen rooms, we were engaged by the City to complete a renovation of the entrance lobby, circulation desk, and first and second floor restrooms, along with the creation of an RFID book check room. The project renovated a total of 2,430 square feet and provided a new circulation desk, book sale room, and accessible restrooms with updated finishes and new fixtures. The oval-shaped circulation desk incorporated self-check stations taking advantage of the library’s move to an RFID scanning system. A 5-bin book sorter was also incorporated for book returns.
LAKE TRAVIS COMMUNITY LIBRARY location: lakeway, texas Occupying a prominent site in mixed-use development, overlooking a large retention pond, fronting a major thoroughfare and visible from all sides, this library serves the four communities of the Lake Travis Library District. The 11,000-square-foot design has a twofold response; to blend with the Tuscan/Hill Country theme mandated by the developer who bequeathed the land to the district, as well as create a dynamic and inviting presence for the community. We worked closely with the district board, the friends, the library director, and staff in many interactive, hands-on sessions to nail down an efficient, functional layout, fitted to site constraints and optimal views.
The interior layout provides a state-of-the-art cross between a contemporary bookstore and a patron-friendly library. Spaces include separate adult, teen, and children’s libraries, a browsing lounge and reading room focused on the lake views, and a multipurpose, subdivided community room/computer lab.
PANOLA COUNTY SAMMY BROWN ADAPTIVE REUSE location: carthage, texas Following the completion of a feasibility study for Panola County, the design team completed the adaptive reuse of an existing 14,300-square-foot art deco style armory building as the new Sammy Brown Library. The new library includes adult and children areas, a genealogy room, a large hospitality space for library programs and library foundation events, a media browsing room, various reading spaces, and all required support service offices. Power was added at all tables for the patrons’ convenience.
Professional services included refurbishing the exterior, landscaping, signage, and a drive up book return. A new logo was developed for the library in an art deco book “sunburst” that was utilized in details throughout—wood paneling, acoustical custom art work, and carpet patterns. Project was designed in association with 720 design who served as library programming/library interior design specialist.
CITY OF ALLEN PUBLIC LIBRARY + CIVIC CENTER location: allen, texas Occupying a prominent 10-acre site, this facility is the premier public facility in the Allen Central Business District. The project involved the master planning of the 10-acre site for a two-phase approach to the construction of the needed facilities. The first phase provided approximately 53,500 square feet of space for the public library and civic auditorium. The second phase, to be completed at the future buildout of the City of Allen, will expand the library creating a final project of 100,000 square feet. The design places the facility close to adjacent streets fostering a sense of urban scale and anticipation. Retail concepts including
over-scaled signage, corner tower, transparency, and bookstore style shelving create and exciting “destination” for patrons. Age-specific spaces include an elliptical patron services hall, children’s library with see-thru 400-gallon freshwater aquarium, glass-enclosed teen’scape, numerous study rooms, coffee shop, and 290-seat tiered civic auditorium.
CITY OF DENISON PUBLIC LIBRARY + TECH CENTER location: denison, texas This 30,000-square-foot, single-story library will occupy a strategically important site on Main Street at one end of Denison’s historic downtown. Designed to create a true “destination,” it will provide not only an inviting, visually transparent library, but a surrounding park/plaza with outdoor stage and gathering space for fairs, festivals, celebrations, proclamations, and a means to boost adjacent retail development. The interior layout provides meeting rooms for after hours use, friends bookstore, adult and teen areas, separate children’s library, staff offices, support areas, and a central technology commons overlooking Main Street.
The facility will have an exposed wood deck ceiling and will be naturally lit from the clerestory windows over the public areas. The exterior was designed to point to the future, yet respect and relate to the history of the downtown and Denison’s position as the first train stop in Texas for the Katy railroad. Its east-facing façade serves as a bookend to the west-facing train depot at the other end of Main Street, both featuring a large, brick arch fronting a landscaped plaza. The design has drawn positive reviews for its ability to evoke memories and images, connections and relationships.
BURNET COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM JOANN C. MITTE MEMORIAL LIBRARY location: bertram, texas This 25,000-volume, county library occupies a prominent site along Highway 29 serving as a “gateway landmark” for downtown Bertram. At 8,550 square feet, it includes a public meeting room, coffee shop, adult and teen areas, children’s library, and staff and support areas. Naturally lit from raised clerestory windows, the interior features comfortable seating, study tables, public access computer stations, and wireless access throughout. Exterior materials reflect local architecture: façades consist of a 10-foot-high base of “pasture stone” in a
fieldstone pattern with copper-colored metal siding above, and a galvalume roof. A continuous covered walkway visually and functionally ties the facility to the historic covered porches common throughout Bertram. The roof and long clerestory windows bring to mind nostalgic images of agrarian buildings and train depots.
CITY OF PLANO HARRINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY location: plano, texas The Harrington Public Library has served the east side of Plano since 1969 and was the city’s first public library. PGAL worked with the City of Plano to program, re-imagine and expand the interior of this 34,000square-foot library to create a forward-thinking library to serve the community for the next 25 years. The expansion and renovation project includes an added sub-dividable, 200-person flexible program room with abundant natural light, restroom upgrades and renovations, and six new group collaboration rooms. Interior spaces were realigned to provide further flexibility and respond to programmatic shifts in the library’s service
population and resource needs including a separate teen space, dedicated children’s program room, two public conference rooms, a digital creation space and a furniture package that assists the library in maintaining hygienic surfaces and safe distancing.
CITY OF BOCA RATON DOWNTOWN LIBRARY location: boca raton, florida Twice the size of the city’s former library, this 42,000-square-foot facility was programmed and designed in close collaboration with the City’s library personnel, Friends of the Library, and the Boca Raton community. The library’s design provides a distinct sense of place, easy access and control, sensible orientation, functional workflow, user-friendly book stacks, and uniform lighting. With arched colonnades on the south and west sides, the exterior design is traditional Mediterranean, reflecting the Addison Mizner architectural influence prevalent in downtown Boca Raton. Exterior features include an
outdoor plaza, 171 parking spaces (including designated fuel-efficient and carpool/van spaces), and a drivethrough book drop with overhang. Inside, a central “spine” crosses the building diagonally and is enhanced by eight overhead arches that produce a cathedral-like feel. The library receives an abundance of indirect, natural light from the 48 clerestory windows positioned 25 feet above floor level. Art gallery walls with LED lighting flank the lobby, and an ocean-themed, carved-glass entrance and whimsical fish graphics welcome visitors to the youth and teen area.
CITY OF SAN MARCOS LIBRARY RENOVATION + EXPANSION location: san marcos, texas The library is located adjacent from City Hall and is a one-story 27,000-square-foot facility built in 1994. The renovation and expansion will essentially double the size of the existing library and provide a newly designed welcoming façade to serve the city’s growing population for the next decade and beyond. The new San Marcos Public Library uses the curvilinear design of the original building and expands it across a plaza and new entrance. A screen is attached to the outdoor portion of the pillars enclosing a new children’s garden while injecting movement into the façade and overall design. The screen continues across a grand
entry plaza, as it performs as a background and privacy screen for the workroom spaces beyond. The central hall of the new plan is pulled towards the parking lot with a supporting shade structure, and the entry plaza is expanded by removing parking in front of the new entrance. Seating under the shaded structure connects the outdoor café to the book drop. The design is meant to inspire pride and identity as a central hearth for the city. The entrance is iconic, inviting and understated respecting the original building form.
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