Metal wall panels tie new to old in Tucson library expansion
Public libraries have had a cultural presence in the United States almost since the nation’s founding – the first one was founded in 1790, in the town of Franklin, Mass., lending books from a collection donated by the town’s namesake, that guy who flew kites during lightning storms. And they’ve continued to thrive, even as digital tools have taken the place of old-school card catalogs, by broadening the scope of services they provide as their patrons’ needs have shifted.As form has followed these changing functions, their design now more often reflects an embracing openness. This certainly is the case with the recent expansion of Tucson’s Martha Cooper Library, with a façade that takes the already-contemporary outlook of the facility’s existing structure in an even more dynamic direction, using a simple material palette of glass curtainwall and architectural metal wall panels.
Named for a longtime civic activist in the city’s Garden District, the library originally opened in 2006 and, according to local news reports, it was filled to capacity almost as soon as it opened its doors. Ten years later, it got a refresh allowing for more computers and a bigger children’s area, but the footprint remained the same. But as demand continued to grow for the public meeting space and technology access today’s libraries are now called on to provide, Pima County Public Library leaders determined expansion was needed. At 14,700 sq. ft., the fully renovated facility is now nearly double its original size.
Designers with the local firm Line & Space Architects drew on the existing building’s angled profile in their plans, but with a twist. Where the original two-story structure features a cantilevered metal awning that angles off at the side, the new pavilion-style extension’s own roofline juts forward, so the building’s profile helps protect indoor spaces from solar heat gain. And, while both old and new halves feature flush metal wall panels, the addition’s cladding sports a darker finish and adds a reveal detail to help give the structure its own identity.
The designers, along with panel installer Starkweather Roofing, turned to Petersen to supply the PAC-CLAD cladding, specifying 4,500 sq. ft. of the company’s Flush and Reveal panels for the project, finished in Musket Gray, which is a Cool Color. These panels are designed for wall, facia and soffit applications. They feature a rounded interlock leg and concealed fastening system that improves aesthetics while also providing added strength.
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