City of Easton:

Considered the Colonial Seat of the Eastern Shore Self-image is Colonial but also has many Victorian buildings

Form and Function Precedents

Secular Church: In many ways a public library functions as a secular church: Public gathering place Place for quitet contemplation and enlightenment Civic marker Hub of community life

Civic Presence

Strong, monumental form but small, pedestrian scale Provide destination to expand downtown Oriented to street Possibility of land across Harrison Street to be a public green and parking area, centered on Library. Auxilary parking for Downtown Most active areas located on street at ground level to animate streetscape and draw people in.

Stylistic Approach

Must be sympathetic to buildings of Easton in scale, material, form Must never be confused as a historic building or dilute actual historic fabric of Easton Building should provide library unique identity

Sustainable Design

Extensive skylights bring natural light through all levels of building, greatly power consumption for artificial lights Scrims and controlled shading prevent heat gain from skylights in summer Skylights vented for thermal loop cooling, especially at night Natural, non-toxic, and local materials throughout Sun shades and light shelves on exterior windows reduce heat gain in summer, bring natural light further into building

Approach to Changing Technology:

Provide formal open "shell" backed by support spaces Division of interior space can be endlessly rearranged as technology changes

Internal Arrangement:

Division into Served and Service space, Public and Private Public space: Core of light and people Ringed by information Enclosed in thick/permeable wall providing individual spaces Two entries by necessity, public brought to center of building for control, then dispersed