Hancock Community Library

Category – Local – AIA Baltimore – Architectural Design Awards (AIA Baltimore) – Cultural / Institutional (AIA Baltimore)

Award: AIA Baltimore Excellence in Design Award Honorable Mention

The architectural goal was to design a very simple elegant building infused with a sense of dignity and pride for the small town Western Maryland community. At only 8,500 gross square feet, the design is focused on flexibility, clarity, user comfort and natural daylight. The linear layout of spaces is an “open plan” arrangement “front to back” with as few walls and enclosed rooms as possible. A heavy timber beam system and structural wood deck is exposed in the primary reading areas where clerestory natural daylighting is combined with direct daylight. The onlooker is drawn to the warmth of the materials, and how creatively the designers showed restraint in keeping those materials clean and warm, successfully creating an inviting atmosphere where one could only hope to spend a few quiet hours reading.

The Architect’s concept for the new Hancock Library was to design a very simple elegant building – unique to its site – infused with a sense of dignity and pride for the small-town Western Maryland community. The primary objective was to “nestle” the new building into the land in a manner which enhances the natural qualities of the place – and creates the perception of “a pavilion in the park”.

The design approach for the new library is based on the economical construction of “a simple box” – a small container for the library program, collections, and systems. At only 8,500 gross square feet, the design is focused on flexibility, clarity, user comfort and natural daylight. The linear layout of spaces is an “open plan” arrangement “front to back” with as few walls and enclosed rooms as possible.

The modest program includes a main reading room, a quiet reading area and a children’s zone – all arrayed along the primary north/south building axis – with a continuous wall of floor to ceiling glass for natural daylighting and uninterrupted views to the park “down the hill.” Support/staff spaces and “stack” areas are located along the west side. The main library entrance is clearly expressed at the south end with tall glass lobby walls that glow at night – and when the Community Room usage occurs independent of the library operations.

A heavy timber beam system and structural wood deck is exposed in the primary reading areas where clerestory natural daylighting is combined with direct daylight at the perimeter window walls of high performance glazing. The exterior materials include a combination of native stone, wood siding, wood panel products, and recycled metal – so that the total building
composition and massing that compliments the natural qualities of the site.

Sustainable elements include pervious parking surfaces, natural daylighting, low flow plumbing fixtures and renewable resource materials and finishes – resulting in a new Library which achieved LEED Silver equivalent – and provides strong environmental stewardship of the land and site where it has been built.

Owner: Washington County Free Library | Architectural Design Team: Frank E. Dittenhafer II, FAIA, LEED AP; Todd R. Grove, AIA; Bruce R. Johnson, AIA, LEED AP, Patrick L. Ness, Associate AIA, Kevin Stick | General Contractor: The Eagle Construction Company | Civil Engineer: Triad Engineering, Inc. | Structural Engineer: Matonak, Snyder & Associates, Inc. | Mechanical & Electrical Engineer: L.S. Grim Consulting Engineers, Inc. | Photography: Alain Jaramillo