The Spieker Company served as the General Contractor for the new 23,000 square foot $6.8 million King Road Branch Library. The building was designed by HBM Architects out of Cleveland, Ohio and engineered by The Buehrer Group of Maumee, Ohio.
The design concept was to create a pavilion with a focus on user space over collection space. An access flooring system allows for total flexibility in the configuration of the main library space and contributes to the sustainability and efficiency of heating and cooling systems.
The building was constructed of fiber cement wall panels, composite metal panels and curtainwall, and to have all the different types of material line up with the pavilion proved to be challenging. Excavating and pouring the concrete walls under the curtain wall was also a challenge. Lining up everything up with the tight radiuses and the “pages” of the wall was critical so the glass would fit correctly.
The grounds has space for a parking lot that accommodates 125 vehicles for patrons and spots for 25 employees. Additionally, a retention pond was dug to collect storm water from the building and parking lot. The building was designed and built to allow for future expansion of an archival facility.