Libraries are in transition. Once a point of knowledge dissemination and quiet introspection, they are becoming places to meet, socialize, study, hang out and plug in. Historically, we have seen a library?s civic value shift from a place for things, now, to a place for people. Its unique nature is that it maintains the tenants of a public service institution, while embracing the increasing proclivity of people to seek environments to carry out activities that blur the line between research, socialization, knowledge-seeking and play.

© Chuck Choi

Architects: NBBJ

Location: Columbus, OH, United States

Area: 25000.0 ft2

Project Year: 2017

Photographs: Chuck Choi

Architecture Team: NBBJ; AJ Montero, Tracy Perry, Mike Suriano, Alyson Erwin, Britni Stone, Stephen Maher, Scot Walls
Landscape Architecture Team: NBBJ; Tony Murry, Chris Laster, Ed Mickelson

Civil Engineer: Korda Engineering

Structural Engineer: Korda Engineering

Mep Engineer: Prater Engineering

Artist Installation: Loris Cecchini

Contractor: Turner Construction

Client: Columbus Metropolitan Library

© Chuck Choi

Text description provided by the architects. Libraries are in transition. Once a point of knowledge dissemination and quiet introspection, they are becoming places to meet, socialize, study, hang out and plug in. Historically, we have seen a library?s civic val...