Embracing the once-dilapidated Cooper Park and the Miami-Erie Canal, the expanded Dayton Main Library offers varied, responsive, and embedded experiences. Nearly the entirety of the original library building was repurposed. Structures and systems were integrated into the aesthetic design of the interior, reducing costs. Prioritizing intuitive and relaxed navigation, the interior opens to a three-story atrium featuring a grand staircase with low-rise steps. Echoing the region’s engineering and nautical heritage, bridges cross the atrium and visually connect the space. A Marketplace showcases new and popular materials. Zoned for after-hours use, a 24-hour lobby contains electronic holds lockers. Recognizing the community need for publicly accessible space, the library renovated a former brewery nearby to serve as a system-wide operations center. Local nonprofits can now use the Opportunity spaces, flexible areas that have hosted activities from co-working to puppet theater. The LaunchPoint is the region’s newest business incubator, housing resources and services, and the 160-seat Bassani Theater off Third offers a versatile stage for community engagement and local productions. Photo by Ken Schory

VITALS

ARCHITECT Group 4 Architecture, Research + Planning, with LWC Incorporated

CATEGORY Renovation

COST $64,000,000

SIZE 224,000 square feet

DATE 2017

AWARDS LEED Gold