newbern library book

NewbernLibraryBook

Morgan AcinoAshley ClarkStephen DurhamWill Gregory

Auburn University Rural Studio

Authorship | All work contained in this book to be considered shared authorship of Stephen Durham, Will Gregory, Ashley Clark and Morgan Acino as students of Auburn University’s Rural Studio. Photographs by the design/build team unless otherwise noted.

Special Thanks | Acino Family, Alex Henderson, Alicia Branstetter Cramer Inc., Adam Grigsby, Adam Levet, Adam Hopfner, Alex Therrien, Alisa McLeod, Andrew Freear, Angela Cabil, Anna Daley, Anne Honeycutt, Asa Porter, Audrey Hodges, Avaleen Porter Kennedy Public Library, Bart Garvin Garvin Industries, Ben Malaier, Betty Golden Eva Public Library, Bill Hooper Kawneer, Bill Mackey, Billie Tsien, Bob Bagdigian, Bonita Benner, Bonnie MacEwan, Brad Schmidt, Brady Whicker, Brenda Wilkerson, Brett Jones, Brian MacKay-Lyons, Brian Vice, Bryson Unruh, Callie Eitzen, Cameron Acheson, Carlayne’ Jordan, Carley Chastain, Carolyn Hemstreet Hale County Library, Cassandra Morgan, Catherine Tabb, Charles Nichols, Cheryl Noel, Chip DeGrace Interface/Flor, Christian Dagg, Christine Bagdigian, Christopher Hagen Hunter Douglas Contract, Chuck Harris Plantation Cypress, Claire Maxfield, Clark Family, Clifton Burt, Cody Franklin, Coleman Coker, Connie Berardinelli, Corky Graves, Dan Rockhill, Dan Wheeler, Daniel Toner, Danielle Henry, Dara Hosey, David Hill, David Hinson, David Gowan, David Perkes, Debbie Deason, Dennis Jacobson Merrill Mfg., Dick Hudgins, Donna Dirks, Dylan Cochran, Durham Family, Edmund Ng Koncept, Elena Barthel, Ellie Stiebel Stiebel-Eltron, Emilie Hagen, Emilie Taylor, Eric Ball, Frances Roberts, Frances Sullivan, Frank Harmon, Gabby Rush, Gaines Blackwell, Gayle Etheridge, Gene McBride Pella, Glenda Cardwell Rockford Public Library, Glenn Murcutt, Grant Wright, Greg Schmidt, Gregory Family, Gwen Melton, Hank Koning, Hanna Pope, Hector and Carolyn Llorens, Hillary Morgan, Jake LaBarre, James Crockett, Jane Fuller, Janine Mwenja, Jay Lamar, Jennifer Stewart Arley Public Library, Jennifer Lomas, Jeremy Van Orman, Jerry Washburn, Jessica Walker, Jill Panvica Global Industries, Jillian Hopkins, Jim Adamson, Jim Turnipseed, Turnipseed International, Joe Farruggia and Family, John Forney, John Hopkins, John Marusich, John Peterson, John Ringel, John Sydnor, John Allen Courtney, Johnny Parker, Jonathan Burman Guardian Insulation, Jonathan Roll iFoam Insulation, Josiah Brown, Julia Long, Julie Eizenberg, Justin Miller, Kasia Leousis, Katherine Bobo, Katie Wood, Katrina Van Vaulkenburgh, Katy Culver LG, Keith Cochran, Kelly Gruhn, Kelyn Relya, Kendricca Gladden, Kenneth House Guardian Insulation, Kevin Goff, Kevin Moore, Kristen Gruhn, Kurt Kistler Kistler-McDougall Corp., Kyle Wherry, Lani George Cabiness Paint & Decorating - Benjamin Moore, Lauren Batts Hansgrohe, Leah Avery, Lee Dow, Linda Davis Moundville Public Library, Linda Yang, Louise Scott, Lucy Begg, Mack Scogin, Mackenzie Stagg, Maggie Scott, Malcolm McRae, Margaret Fletcher, Marion Mougey, Marla Cole, Marlon Blackwell, Mary Swanzy, Mary McGarity, Mary Jane Everett, Mary Margaret Jenrath, Matthew Pugh Freeman Sheet Metal & Roofing, Megan Wood, Melissa Denney, Merrill Elam, Michael Clemmer, Michaela Robinson, Michelle Walker Somerville Public Library, Mike Sullivan, Mike Newman, Mike Pyatok, Nancy Pack, Nancy Spetnagel, Natalie Butts, Nina Wolgelenter Big Ass Fans, Ning Shi, Olivia Backer, Patches the Cat, Patrick Braxton, Paul Mims, Paul Stoller, Pete Landon, Peter Gluck, Peter McInish, R. Scott Williams, Ralston Long, Ravi Ricker, Rebecca Duffin, Rebecca Mitchell, Rena Baker, Rick Joy, Robert Gay, Robert Klinner Evolutia, Ronnie Thomas, Roy Decker, Rusty Smith, Sam Moffett, Sara Beasley Loachapoka Public Library, Sarah Barr, Sarah Wigglesworth, Scott Finn, Scott Peacock, Sean Kennedy, Shannon Peede Dow Corning, Shannon Saeger WS Bath Collections, Sheri Schumacher, Skip Redner Knoll, Stephanie Taylor, Steve Badanes, Steve Dumez, Steve Long, Steve Protzman, Ted Cater Panasonic, Ted Flato, Thelma Brown, Theodore Hillin, Tiffany Robbins Georgia Pacific, Tim Owen, Tod Williams, Tom Kundig, Tomas Lopez, Townsend Kyser, Trent Tepool, Trevor Johnson, Tyler Courtney, Vini Nathan, Walker Courtney, Wendell Burnette, Walthall Family, Will McGarity, Xavier Vendrell, Zane Morgan, Zev Powell

This book is dedicated to all the friends of Rural Studio.

Context

PlaceCommunity Partners and ImpactSite

Schematic Design

Role of the Contemporary LibrarySiting an AdditionAdaptive Reuse

Designing and Building

Deconstruction and StabilizationEnvelopeConnection and CladdingFenestrationBookcaseAlcoves and ArtifactsLight, Air and SoundSignage and FurnitureCourtyard

010018024

038046052

070090104118136148166178198

ContextPlace Community Partners and ImpactSite

010018024

010 / Context

Place

Among the catfish farms and timber forests, Newbern maintains its presence as an active small town in the rural West Alabama Black Belt. Historically, Newbern was an agricultural hub for cotton growers, once housing a gin and railway stop. With the depletion of fertile soil, Newbern struggles as a rural town with the absence of steady agriculture and industry. Because of this, Newbern and southern Hale County remains one of the most economically challenged areas in the country. Despite the economic decline, the rolling prairies, water-ways, and pine forests have created a majestic backdrop for which resilient dairy barns and antebellum homes sit in juxtaposition with run down trailers and abandoned stores.

Place / 011

Useful Land | A flooded creek cuts through

a cattle ranch along Highway 61 between

Newbern and Uniontown. The quiet and

pastoral landscape of Hale County has been

nearly untouched for the past fifty years.

012 / Context

014 / Context

Downtown Newbern |overleaf and above| When

Alabama Highway 61 was still referred to as

Main Street, Newbern had a bustling downtown

with a highly regarded hotel and several stores,

surrounded by large antebellum homes. Since

the agricultural decline and the establishment

of the highway, only the post office and

mercantile store remain in use. Rural Studio's

interest in Newbern has led to the tenancy of

several abandoned buildings as well as the

construction of a Town Hall and Fire Station.

U.S. Geological Survey |opposite| The majority

of Newbern's 189 residents live outside the

town limits in a suburban/rural setting, a result

of the town's agricultural history. This lifestyle

relies on automobile transportation to the town

and surrounding areas for access to education

and work.

016 / Context

Rural Studio | Established in 1993 by Samuel

Mockbee and D.K. Ruth, Auburn University's

Rural Studio has built hundreds of residential

and community projects throughout Hale

and surrounding counties. As an off-campus

design/build program of the College of

Architecture, Planning, and Landscape

Architecture, the Rural Studio teaches students

the value of sustainable, community based

design. Pictured are the Newbern Town Hall,

completed in 2013, and the Volunteer Fire

Station, completed in 2005.

Place / 017

Red Barn | In the heart of downtown, Red

Barn houses the design studios for the Auburn

students. Its untidy appearance and patchwork

construction exemplify the use of the building

as a hands-on teaching lab and medium for

collaboration. In the brutal heat of summer

and bitter cold of winter, students meet with

consultants, critics, and community partners to

develop their designs and details.

018 / Context

Community Partners & Impact

In 2012, a group of citizens recognized the need for a community center in Southern Hale County. They believed a library would provide educational and social resources currently unavailable. They formed a library board, whose mission is to establish a library as a place to preserve books and local history, and to stimulate an interest in learning among children. The library board approached the Rural Studio for help with the design, construction, and implementation of their vision. The construction of the building and establishment of the institution would not have been possible without the support of the citizens of Southern Hale County and government officials on the state, county, and local level.

Story Times | In the fall of 2014 with

construction progressing on the building, the

library board hosted a weekly story time for

local children. Each week followed a theme,

and kids listened to stories and participated in

crafts around that theme. The Newbern Library

plans to host programs such as this throughout

the year.

020 / Context

Newbern Library Board | In the summer of

2012, a group of Newbern citizens formed the

non-profit Newbern Library Board. Pictured

from left to right: Gwen Melton, Louise Scott,

Andrew Freear, Thelma Brown, Frances

Sullivan, and Marla Cole. Not pictured: Mary

Jane Everett.

Community Partners and Impact / 021

Wathall Family | The children of former

Newbern mayor Robert L. Walthall have an

interest in the upkeep and future of the town.

Because of this, the Walthall family generously

offered an inexpensive long-term lease to the

library board, with the stipulation that the

building remains a library. Throughout the

design and construction, the student team met

with the family for approval on the direction of

the project.

022 / Context

Sunshine School |above| Located 5 miles from

downtown Newbern, Sunshine was a K-12 Hale

County Public School serving Newbern and

unincorporated surrounding areas. With the

closure of the school following the 2014-2015

school year, the 250 students at Sunshine must

travel to Greensboro or Moundville for school.

Gauging Interest |opposite| To better

understand interest in the library and potential

programs among children living in Newbern,

the team created a short survey distributed to

1st-11th graders at Sunshine School. Topics of

interest included methods of transportation,

the desire to receive homework help, favorite

books, and favorite place to read (original

drawings pictured).

Community Partners and Impact / 023

024 / Context

Site

At the corner of Highway 61 and School Street, the old bank building serves as a bookend for downtown and billboard for those approaching Newbern from the south. Built in 1906 as the first bank in Hale County, it remained operational until the Great Depression and sought to repay the citizens keeping their money there. Since that time, the building briefly served as an insurance office, storage building, and the polling place for southern Hale County. To the north of the bank, a vacant lot and private gas pump served the owners of the building. Because of the building’s brick construction, prominent storefront and history, it is an iconic image for Newbern.

Site / 025

Centennial | The bank building at dusk, on its

106th birthday. Through the large storefront

windows, the teller wall and vault door were

clearly visible to passersby.

026 / Context

Site / 027

Historic Newbern c. 1950 | Prior to the

establishment of Highway 61, the sidewalks of

downtown Newbern were lined with elm trees.

Historically, diagonal parking was located

on Main Street but after the widening of the

highway people began informally pulling up

to the front doors of buildings. The Bank of

Newbern Building (left) was unpainted and

capped with a horizontal awning.

028 / Context

Site / 029

Elevations |above| The east fa�ade has a

striking front door, flanked by cast iron columns

and large storefront windows. Floor and ceiling

vents dot the northern and southern facades

above tall double hung windows. Parapets

conceal the sloped roof, raising the overall

height of the building and its sense of scale. The

textured painted brick transforms a flat surface

into a dynamic, shadowy plane.

Site Plan |opposite| Nestled among patches

of forests and catfish ponds, downtown

Newbern runs along Highway 61 between

School St. and County Rd. 16. Commercial and

civic buildings are oriented on an east-west

axis with storefronts facing the road. Beyond

the centralized downtown, density quickly

decreases to the rural surrounding of trailer

home communities and farmsteads.

030 / Context

Site / 031

Existing Plan and Section |opposite| Customers

entered into a large front room traversed by a

teller wall separating the public and bank staff.

Behind the teller wall, money was secured in a

vault protected by four wythes of brick and a

thick steel door. To the west of the main room

is an office and storage closet that was made

a bathroom after the bank closed. In section,

the roof sloped west and water was caught in

a gutter running along the back. Floor joists

create a crawl space between the finish floor

and Alabama clay below.

Finding Artifacts |above| In their current

condition and layout, the teller wall and vault

were not conducive to the layout of a modern

library, but because of their iconography,

the team wanted to reintroduce them in the

finished library.

032 / Context

Site / 033

Interior Space | Light floods through tall

windows and is reflected off the white walls

and 12' ceilings. A dark stained heart pine

floor and wide plank bead board ceiling run

through the back office and front room. A

layer of thick white plaster covered the brick

walls and juxtaposed the dark stained trim

and baseboards. Electrical wiring, lighting, and

plumbing were haphazardly added throughout

the buildings life.

034 / Context

Moisture Issues | During the survey, the team

discovered that the brick vault walls were

sitting on their own concrete foundation built

directly on the clay. Thus ground water wicked

up through the walls and condensed on the

vault door in colder temperatures. On both the

interior and exterior, this condensation caused

the vault door to rust and decay.

Site / 035

Materials to Reuse | Many of the historic interior

materials were well preserved and could be

re-imagined. The heart pine floor and bead

board ceiling were cleaned, sealed and reused

as a cladding material. The vault bricks were

removed one by one and used in the courtyard

for a ramp, hardscape surface, and fence.

036 / Schematic Design

SchematicDesignRole of the Contemporary LibrarySiting an AdditionAdaptive Reuse

038046052


Role of the Contemporary Library

With the advancement of technology, the way people use and inhabit the public library is changing. Technology gives people the ability to connect with others around the world, making a library a community center that encourages social interaction rather than just being a place to store books. Despite technological advancements, the tactile nature and sharing of books between members of the community inspires a thirst for knowledge. By providing both resources within a building with an iconic presence, the Newbern Library can be a place of civic pride for the people of Newbern, creating a connected citizenry through shared knowledge.

The Role of a Modern Library / 039 Site / 039

Visiting Small Town Libraries | To understand

the role of a modern library in small town

Alabama, the team visited libraries in towns

with a population of 750 or less and a school

within 5 miles. These towns also had a library

with a service population less than 1,500, the

estimated service population for the Newbern

Library. After researching the budgets and

circulation numbers, the team needed to

understand the services and programs

provided by the libraries to members of the

communities.


Road Trip |opposite| From left to right, the trip

included visits to Akron, Kennedy, Arley, Eva,

Sommerville, Rockford, Elmore, Greensboro,

and Loachapoka (not pictured).

Talking with Experts |above| Betty Golden, the

head librarian at Eva Public Library, explains

a typical day at the library. Eva has excellent

children's resources as well as a popular

couponing class for the community. They

stressed the growing interest in technology at

public libraries as well as the importance of the

library as a community center.

Role of the Contemporary Library / 041


Program | With the information from the small

town library visits applied to the context of

Newbern, the program includes book storage,

computer stations, a place to check out books,

storage areas, a place for collaboration, a place

to read and work independently, a children's

area, a stage, and a place to store the oral

and visual history of Newbern. Because the

function of the library is to encourage a social

environment, many of these activities will

overlap.


Transitional Library | Traditional libraries were

places to store books within an impressive

civic space. Libraries today have evolved into

collaborative places where people go to create,

reflect, and share ideas, often emphasizing

technology over books. Pictured above, Trinity

College Library in Dublin and a library in

Copenhagen by COBE.


Siting an Addition

Within the context of Newbern, the team explored three main strategies for building an addition to the bank, the urban infill scheme, the courtyard scheme, and the linear extrusion. The criteria for which these were evaluated included strengthening the urban condition, the efficiency both programmatically and environmentally, the resultant space created to the north of the bank building, and the impact of the addition adjacent to the old bank building.

The urban infill scheme expands to the north, adding a storefront and filling a vacant lot along Main Street. The courtyard scheme situates the addition perpendicular to the existing building, creating a large porch and framing a courtyard along the street. The linear extrusion extends the building to the west, keeping the iconic storefront of the bank building and allowing the lot to the north to be developed into a courtyard for the library or future urban development.

Siting an Addition / 047

Addition Matrix | Besides the location and

orientation of the addition, the way in which the

addition touched the bank was considered. The

addition could be a separate building, a direct

extrusion from the old building, or connected

with a covered dogtrot or an airtight vestibule.


Bank of Newbern building Morrisette Housedining room

Newbern Town Hallcouncil chambermeeting room

Newbern Mercantile Red Barncritique room

Red Barnthesis studio and work room

Thesis Barn Wood Shop Newbern Fire Station Newbern Fire Stationupstairs meeting platform

SPACE REFERENCES 1/16” = 1’







Survey of Newbern Spaces | As spatial

references in proposing a formal addition, the

team diagrammed familiar Newbern buildings

and their interiors. Most are long, rectangular

rooms, typical of historic urban commercial

neighborhoods.


Infill and "L" Schemes | Although it created

an additional storefront to downtown, the

urban infill scheme fell short with its intrusive

connection to the bank on a long facade, On

the interior, the team found it more difficult to

program the building and maintain sight lines

for the librarian. The "L" scheme frames an

outdoor space between the bank, thesis barn,

and highway 61 and creates a long porch on the

east fa�ade of the addition. This scheme did not

achieve a cohesive space nor maintain strong

sight lines for the librarian, but did present the

opportunity for sections of the library to be

open based on the number of visitors.


Extrusion Scheme | Based on the delicate

connection between the old and new, the

courtyard to the north of the building, the

cohesion of the interior space, and the

continuation of the vernacular form of other

buildings in downtown Newbern, the extrusion

to the west was the most appropriate strategy

for adding on to the bank building.


Adaptive Reuse

Adaptive reuse refers to reusing an existing building for a purpose other than what it was originally designed for, in this case, adapting a bank into a library. The masonry shell of the existing building was preserved from the exterior, with a contrasting addition clad in local cypress siding. Bookshelves re-center a new space within the width of the old building creating a reading room for library patrons and community events. Complementing the larger public space, a series of alcoves within the bookshelves accommodate computers, private study nooks, window seats, storage closets, bathrooms, and access the outdoors. A courtyard along the north of the building provides library patrons with shaded outdoor reading and activity space.

Adaptive Reuse / 053

Insertion Model | Treating the bank building as

a shell, an addition and cohesive library interior

can be imagined as an insertion into the back of

the existing building.


Creating Space with Books | The team

identified five potential book organization

schemes fitting with the insertion concept.

The insulation scheme wraps the perimeter

walls with books, creating an open space

defined by walls of books. The wall scheme

uses a single mass housing books, services, and

spaces floating in the room. The field scheme

disperses bookshelves throughout the space.

The object scheme creates a room within a

room, an enclosed space built of books. The

enfilade scheme creates a progression of rooms

defined by rows of shelves housing different

programmatic elements.


Designing with Light | Uniform ambient light

from natural and artificial sources is essential

for the longevity of books and comfort of

patrons. However through the strategic

placement of windows and skylights, the

resulting light levels designate spaces and

activities within a larger room.


Ideal Width |opposite| Realizing the potential

in narrowing the interior, the team used poch�

diagrams of various thickened wall depths

to locate the main space within the building

width. The poch� will house program as well,

requiring one side to be thicker and the interior

strategically asymmetrical.

Process Perspective |above| An early collage

rendering begins to express the idea of creating

a larger zone of activity, with eddies of space

alongside for bookshelves and other programs.


Room of Books | With the ideal width

established, the team revisited book

organization strategies and space making.

Bookcases oriented perpendicular to the main

space create nooks for additional program

between them while a wall of books surrounds

the main space and houses program within the

bookshelf thickness.


Spatial Mock-ups | The team mocked-up

the ideal width in the bank building using

landscape fabric, a folding table and some

chairs. Occupying the space along with altering

a photograph to imagine the full length of the

interior helped the team understand the feeling

of being in a 14' wide room made of books.


Alcoves within the Bookcase | In the main

space, the height of the bank ceiling was

continued into the addition, forming a single

ceiling plane. In the northern book wall,

changes in section give the various alcoves

distinct identities.


Views of the Interior |above| Upon entering,

patrons are greeted by the librarian and

surrounded by books in the main social

space with collaborative work areas and

casual seating. Natural light pours through

the large windows, illuminating the alcoves

and bookshelves. At the table, patrons feel

comfortable sitting independently or in groups.

The garden alcove, flanked by storage closets

at the threshold, has a strong connection with

the courtyard to the north.

Plan |opposite| Patrons enter through the

original bank doors into a vestibule with a

new, efficient airtight door. The vestibule leads

into the large social space occupied by the

librarian's desk at the front, a large table for

collaborative and individual work in the middle,

and a casual living room like setting with flexible

furniture at the back. Two accessible restrooms

flank a second entry to courtyard and parking.

To the north of the building, a grove of trees

and boundary from the street and parking

create a safe and flexible outdoor space. The

parking lot is to the rear of the building.


Exterior Materiality |above| The exterior of

the addition sought to compliment rather than

compete with the beauty and civic nature of the

bank. Wood is a vernacular building material

commonly seen on churches and commercial

buildings. Lighter than the brick and full of

character, wood was chosen as the cladding for

the addition.

View from the Living Room |overleaf| Adjacent

to the living room space, the raised children's

alcove is wrapped with a soft, bright material to

provide a place for kids to gather individually or

for story time.


Siding Studies | The above renderings

investigated the relationship between the

dimension of a board and the dimension of a

brick, the amount of contrast between a darker

addition and the white bank, and the difference

between a vertical and horizontal board. These

studies were done in conjunction with window

placement and the relationship between new

windows and the existing.

070 / Designing and Building

Deconstruction and Stabilization / 071

Designing& BuildingDeconstruction and StabilizationEnvelopeConnection and CladdingFenestrationBookcaseAlcoves and ArtifactsLight, Air and SoundSignage and FurnitureCourtyard

070090104118136148166178198


Deconstruction & Stabilization

As an adaptive reuse, the library required a non-traditional process, where both design and construction overlapped to inform one another throughout the project. In April 2013, the team began the deconstruction process, carefully archiving the building finishes and assessing it’s condition while disassembling the interior. The next step required the help of structural engineer Joe Farruggia of Chicago to devise a plan for removing the west wall while maintaining lateral stability for the building. The resulting process included removing the back wall in phases. The first step required creating an opening large enough for the bobcat to enter. Then later, after pouring a small slab within the existing structure and temporarily bracing the building, the remainder of the wall was removed to open up the back of the building.


Wall Removal | The first step to the

deconstruction process was the demolition of a

lathe and plaster partition wall in the center of

the bank building.


Teller Wall Survey and Deconstruction | After

investigating the structure and connections of

the old teller wall, the team was able to carefully

deconstruct the piece without any damage

to the original mill work. Understanding the

original modulations of the piece was critical for

proper deconstruction.


Ceiling Deconstruction | Careful investigation

of the original materials led to the decision to

deconstruct and reuse the old bead-board

ceiling and heart pine floor boards. At this

point in construction it was not clear where or

how much of these materials would be used in

the new library so the team carefully cleaned

and stored all of the wood in a nearby barn for

future use.


Vault Removal | After deconstructing the

old brick vault with hammer and chisel, the

old vault door was carefully secured shut,

ornamentation temporarily removed and

prepared for storage. The team built a cart to

fit the door using casters from a lamella jig used

for a previous Rural Studio project. Then the

vault was tipped onto the cart and strapped

behind a golf cart for transportation to storage.


Foundation Drainage |opposite| The foundation

collected water beneath the crawl space as the

surrounding grade had built up over time. The

solution involved pouring a new slab within

the old bank walls (to eliminate the need to

ventilate or insulate the crawl space beneath

the floor) and installing a french drain at the

base of the foundation to prevent water from

soaking the structure.

Foundation Repair and Protection |above| A

combination of solutions went into solving the

water infiltration. The perimeter was excavated,

footings pressure washed and scrubbed clean.

Then an application of ThoroSeal dampproofing

was applied to the old footings. Finally, a french

drain was installed at the base of the footing

which would collect and carry water away from

the building, moving the water down the site

along an existing drainage ditch to the west.


Interior Excavation | Once the hole was cut

in the back wall the bobcat was able to move

inside to remove the saturated top soil beneath

the old floor structure. The team surveyed the

existing soil with the pocket penetrometer to

understand how much dirt needed to removed

and replaced with engineered soil.


Concrete Preparation | After the bad dirt was

removed and engineered dirt was compacted in

place, four inches of #57 limestone gravel was

spread and leveled precisely, then compacted.


Concrete Pour #1 | Pouring the new slab

inside the old building proved to be more

difficult than anticipated. An elevated screed

board was installed to set a consistent

level for the concrete, yet still the 24 wide

section of concrete was difficult to manage.

Fortunately this slab was always intended to

be covered with a new wooden sub floor so the

inconsistences in the concrete were not a major

problem.


Bracing Placement |opposite| Within the new

stud walls, metal studs were installed at the

points specified by the engineer. These metal

studs were installed in addition to the normal

two foot wood stud spacing and were critical

in the connection to the old brick walls. Kickers

were fastened to the metal studs, located so

that future shear walls could be built between

the temporary bracing. Once the bracing was

installed, the back wall was removed.

Joe FarruggiaStructural EngineerChicago

Throughout the design and construction process, the team communicated with Joe via early morning phone calls to discuss structural decisions, both conceptual and technical. Joe’s experience was crucial in understanding how to restructure a new interior space within the shell of the old building.


Designing the Concrete Pour Process | Before

the second pour, the team consulted with a

group of former Rural Studio students (who

designed and built the concrete skate park in

Lions Park). They suggested breaking up the

pours into smaller portions: beginning with the

first and third section, then removing the in

between formwork so that the the new slabs

could be used to screed between for the last

two sections.


Concrete Pour #2 | Although the skip pour

process required more formwork, the concrete

was much easier to control, level and finish.


Envelope

As a young non-profit institution in a rural community, the Newbern Library expects to have limited annual funds, therefore minimizing the operating expenses of the library was a primary goal for the project. To achieve this, providing a well-insulated, tightly sealed envelope is imperative. In this case the completed project uses two types of spray foam, each with unique properties treating the wood framed addition and the masonry walls.

The team also restored the original passive strategies for the southern climate by providing cross-ventillation through replacement windows, repainting the building white to reflect the hot summer sun and installing a new awning to shade the large east facing storefront. Together with efficient mechanical systems, these strategies contribute to a well performing building.

Envelope / 091

Sheathing | OSB sheathing is fastened to the

stud walls of the library addition. One of the

many lessons learned on siteÑhow to carry

things: yourself, a nail gun, your tools and 4x8

sheets of material. Although sometimes you just

need an extra set of hands (or two).


Insulation Strategies | Throughout the design

phase, the team researched and explored

numerous possibilities for properly insulating

the brick walls. The biggest question involved

the placement of the moisture and vapor

barriers within the wall and roof assemblies.

Envelope / 093

Detailed Sections | When closed cell spray

foam was determined to be the appropriate

solution for insulating the brick walls (above

left), this influenced the decision to insulate

directly beneath the roof deck and eliminate the

plenum space above the ceiling. Open cell foam

was used under the roof deck and against the

wood framed addition (above right) since both

already had a moisture barrier on the exterior of

the envelope.

5-1/2" Open Cell Spray

Foam

2x6 Stud Framing

OSB Sheathing

Tar Paper

1x4 Battens

3/4" Novelty Siding

6"+ Open Cell Spray Foam

2" Closed Cell Spray Foam

6" Open Cell Spray Foam

2x4 Stud Framing

Existing Brick Walls

Thoro-Seal Damp Proofing

4" Flexible Perforated Pipe

Envelope / 095

Framing the Addition |above| During an

unusually snowy winter, the team began

framing the exterior walls of the addition. Built

in manageable sections for a small team to lift

in place, the framing contains double bottom

and top plates to allow the team to shim

between the concrete and connect the sections

of the walls across the top.

Framing Drawings |opposite| The student team

worked to calculate the appropriate sized lintels

for the windows in the addition. Dealing back

and forth with the engineer in Chicago allowed

the team to refine their verbal and hand

drawing communication skills.

Envelope / 097


Tapered Rafters |above| Morgan and Stephen

attach tapered rafters to the new TJIs.

They were cut using a jig and skill saw from

dimensional lumber to maximize the material

and get two rafters from each cut. Finally they

were nailed in place, with blocking between to

provide stiffness.

Roof Assembly |opposite and overleaf| With the

help of a catfish boom truck, the team installed

24-foot TJIs to span the walls of the addition

and replace the damaged joists in the old bank.

Parapet walls were installed on top of the TJIs,

then tapered rafters to provide the desired

slope toward the connection and the roof was

sheathed with plywood. Freeman Sheet Metal

& Roofing from Tuscaloosa installed a TPO

membrane over the entire roof and capped the

parapet with galvalume coping.

Envelope / 099


Spray Foam Installation |above| Due to the

highly technical installation procedure, students

contracted with local spray foam installer,

iFoam, to insulate beneath the roof substrate

and within the walls.

Insulation Conditions |opposite| Closed

cell spray foam was used for it's moisture

impermeability against the brick, while more

affordable open cell foam was used in the

conventionally framed addition.

Envelope / 101


Sleepers and Subfloor |above| Once the

exterior envelope was completed a new 3/4"

plywood subfloor was installed over 2x4

sleepers on top of the rough concrete.

Interior Framing |opposite| Once completely

dried in, new interior studs was were installed

to frame up the alcoves. These walls provided

shear support for the old bank walls.

Envelope / 103 Section Title / 103


Connection & Cladding

As a historic civic building within a small town, the old bank building has always been an icon for the community. Adding onto to this treasure in a modest and respectful manor proved to be the biggest design challenge. Conceptually, the addition is perceived as a new wood structure inserted within the walls of the old bank building. The subtle, bleached cypress siding is a modest box, taking cues from the brick, while giving the old bank it’s due gravitas. At the connection where the old and new meet, their two roofs slope into a concealed gutter. Here the team chose to celebrate this connection with a galvanized steel scupper that collects the roof water and a corresponding aluminum joint. This steel detailing is repeated at the corners and informs the remaining details for the project.

Connection and Cladding / 105

South Elevation | This fa�ade shows the

completed project and the relationship

between the existing building and its new

addition. The goal was to create a modest

counterpart that compliments the original

building, without competing with it.


Connection Detail | Full scale details

were drawn at 1:1 scale and were helpful in

understanding how the layers of different

materials would come together.


Siding Connection |above| An up close view of

the connection detail shows the galvalum metal

slipping into the old brick wall. Steel angle

was used to cap the ends of the cladding and

protect them from weather.

Process Sketch |right| Relating the dimension

of the connection to the scupper resolved the

question of how wide the metal should be.


Scupper at Work |above| The folded steel

scupper was cut and bent in Newbern by a local

metal shop, then galvanized in Birmingham

before being installed in the gutter. Extending

over three feet past the building, the scupper

projects roof water into the catchment basin

below.

Scupper Detail Drawings |opposite| Because

the internal gutter is a complex and critical

detail in the building, the team drew many

iterations to be sure that all roof water drains

properly.


Process Cladding Details |opposite| The team

first looked into all wood detailing for cladding

and window frames/trim, but then began to

look into durable metal transition pieces that

related to the galvanized scupper.

Cladding Color |above| Numerous mock-ups

of siding finish options were tested, from solid

paint to translucent stains. This decision would

effect the perception of the entire addition

against the existing white-painted brick. Finally,

a bleaching oil was chosen to both contrast the

white brick and showcase the texture of the

locally sourced cypress siding.


Siding Detail |opposite| This partial wall section

depicts how the siding terminates at both the

foundations and parapet.

Siding Installation |above| The novelty siding

creates a horizontal shadow line that relates to

the old brick mortar joints. The dropped profile

of the siding made for a simple installation

process, as each piece nested onto the one

below. The bleaching oil finish will protect the

material and allow for even weathering as the

cypress turns silver.


Cladding by Night |above| The team installs

cypress siding on the west wall by attaching

each board through the furring strips and into

the stud framing. This rain screen assembly will

make the cypress last longer by allowing it to

dry from both sides, as well as better protecting

the exterior wall sheathing from dampness.

Elevation Studies |opposite| Drawings of each

fa�ade allowed the team to design an ideal

composition of apertures relative to both the

interior and exterior.


Fenestration

To honor the history of the old bank, the exterior of the old building was treated as a restoration, making renovations consistent with its original construction. The decaying windows and storefront were replaced with traditional windows, and surrounded by layers of intricate trim to mimic the original mouldings. In contrast to the restored windows, the new apertures follow a different language as not to compete with the decorative trim. Using thin galvanized steel frames consistent with the connection, the minimal new window frames and choice of doors create a consistent language of detailing for the addition.

Fenestration / 119

The West Window | The west elevation of the

building is the largest expanse of siding, with

only a small window and hidden storage access

door.

Dan WheelerArchitectChicago

Chicago architect, Dan Wheeler, inspired and informed much of the detailing process. Dan helped the team resolve a simple material language of galvanized steel to create windows, signage and countless other exterior and interior details. The team confirmed details with Dan by hand drawing 1:1 details over and over again until every drip edge and flashing condition was considered.

Fenestration / 121

Storefront Restoration | It was very important

to the community that the appearance of the

storefront remain the same. Careful surveying

of the fa�ade allowed the team to both thicken

the storefront for insulation purposes and keep

the integrity of the original detailing.

Fenestration / 123

Old Windows | The original double hung

windows in the bank were restored using

new, double insulated Pella windows. Before

installation, the old brick opening had to be

framed out to the correct size for the new

windows (where the old counterweight system

had been removed). Once the new windows

were installed, layers of trim were

added to create the original profile.


Window Detailing Process | In contrast to the

old windows in the bank, the intent of the new

windows was to contrast the thick and ornate

frames with thin modern frames that did not

compete with the old trim work. Many iterations

were drawn to investigate the proper size,

material and assembly. Eventually the team

realized a thin metal frame would best suit the

new apertures.

Fenestration / 125

Fenestration / 127

New Windows | The windows in the addition

were designed to be frameless "punches"

through the bookcase and building envelope.

From the interior, the plywood of the bookshelf

wraps the openings and covers the metal stops

that hold the glass in place. From the exterior

a thin 1/4" galvanized steel frame stops the

cypress siding around the windows. Hidden

behind the siding, four mitered 1.5" angles are

welded to the steel window frame around all

sides and act as a fastening flange. South facing

windows are fitted with roller shade recessed

within the bookshelf.


Making the Steel Windows | The process

involved drawing files for the fabricator to cut,

grinding the edges of the steel in preparation

for welding, cutting and grinding the angle

flanges, clamping the parts together, welding,

and grinding down again. The windows were

then braced and galvanized in Birmingham.

Once galvanized, bracing was removed and the

window frames were installed into the opening.

Holes were drilled and tapped in the window

stops, insulated glazing units set, and stops

fastened with stainless steel machine screws.

Zane MorganRural Studio Alum and Architectural WelderBirmingham, Alabama

The team worked with Zane to confirm most all of the steel detailing in the project. But most critically, Zane volunteered his time and skill to help fabricate the frames with the precision and craft they required. As a volunteer commuting from Birmingham, the team coordinated with Zane to make sure that all pieces and parts of the process were ready and organized.

Fenestration / 129


A New Opening in the Old Brick |above| Before

the steel lintel was set, a demo saw was used

to cut a clean vertical edges on both interior

and exterior. Once the lintel was in place, the

bricks beneath could be removed using a

sledge hammer and hammer drill.

Lintel Installation Process |opposite| In order to

install the new window in the brick wall, a new

lintel needed to be set. Communication with

our engineer helped us understand the process

of replacing bricks with a set of steel angles

to transfer the load of the brick wall before

removing the bricks below.

Fenestration / 131


Caption Title|above| Si beaquatiis asimusam

iumquae rerferferis ea doluption nimusam

quasit aut od eniet es et exerepella vitatur

renda cum qui officat quis et velit minctem

olorera tendame ndanis pro ea nam voluptis et

asped et as eaqui nonsed mincidel maio vitia

pliquia sperum

Fenestration / 133

Garden Window | Similar to the steel windows

in the addition, the "garden room" window

creates a pure punch through the brick wall. In

this small meeting room the large new window

extends to the ceiling, walls and wrap-around

bench to create a large window seat for a few

people to enjoy.

Fenestration / 135

Back Entry | Following the same language as

the steel windows of the addition, the entry

way is framed with a thin galvanized frame.

The doors were set back into the facade to

provide a covered are to open the doors before

entering, especially important with books or

keys in hand.


Bookcase

While the exterior clearly expresses the difference between old and new, the inside was an opportunity for a new seamless interior. Stitched together by a continuous bookcase, the main interior space is an elongated open room encased with books. To strengthen this idea and simplify the material pallet, the encasing space is made of a single material, birch plywood, to represent the new interior of the library. This affordable, readily availably material is both structural and beautiful, allowing the plywood to serve as both a bookcase and a sheathing material. With over 150 linear feet of bookcases, it was crucial that the team develop an assembly method that was simple and streamlined, while allowing for reasonable error.

Bookcase / 137

The Bookcase Interior | Modular plywood

bookshelves compose a totally new space

within the walls of the existing building and

addition.


Modules and Openings | This diagram shows

options for how to puncture the bookcase

module with openings. The options include

following the rigid grid of the module and

making openings conform to the size of the

bookcase module or breaking the structure

of the bookcase and creating a new puncture

through the bookcase.

Bookcase / 139

Coding Alcoves | These diagrams show

different ways of coding the surfaces of the

alcoves. Some explorations looked at making

the alcove materials different than the plywood

bookcases to draw attention to the openings

and their unique differences.


Plywood Shelving System | As the team began

working with plywood, it was clear that this

lightweight, strong material would be easy to

work with for a number of reasons. The material

was resistant to warping and cracking and was

also something that the team felt comfortable

working with. The warm natural texture of the

plywood also provided a great backdrop for

books in the space. The bookcase design was

developed to make the most economical use of

this 4x8 material. Modules are approximately 8'

wide and backing panel divisions are hidden by

the shelves.

Bookcase / 141

Finding the Perfect Plywood | The team

looked at a variety of types of plywood and

finishes: from American pine to Baltic birch

and everything in between. The team also

considered how the material would weather

over time with normal wear and tear, as well as

tanning from sunlight.


Bookcase Details | Renderings tested a

number of options for terminating the

bookshelf at an opening. The choice to recess

some intermediate verticals but bring others

flush with the horizontals came from the

understanding of how modules would come

together and how openings would occur within

the shelves.

Bookcase / 143

Tolerance Gaps | After building a number of

mock-ups the team realized that the bookcase

needed room for error. These tolerance gaps

allowed a new module or opening to start plum

and level even if the module before it was 1/16"

out of square. These tolerance gaps not only

provided ease of construction but also became

a delightful building detail that is consistent

around the entire space.


Bookcase Fabrication and Assembly | The

individual pieces were CNC-routed in Auburn

from 4x8 plywood pieces picked up in

Montgomery. Labeled pieces stacked efficiently

for transport back to Newbern, where they

were sanded, lacquered, sanded, and lacquered

again. Finished pieces were then attached to

the backing in an egg crate fashion to make

a module. Individual modules stacked one on

top of the other and side by side and installed

around the library.

Sean KennedyShop SupervisorAuburn University

Sean processed all of the CAD files designed by the team to program the CNC machine. The router bit traveled approximately 2 miles to cut the bookshelf pieces and drilled 40,942 holes to perforate the acoustic ceiling.

Bookcase / 145

Bookcase / 147


Alcoves and Artifacts

Complementing the large social space filled with books, smaller alcoves along the north offer a variety of both public and private rooms for independent work, collaboration in small groups, services and private storage for the librarian. Accessed by walking through the bookcase, each space has a different relationship both with the main space and the garden to the north. Each room is unique in both volume and materiality, offering a place for old materials and artifacts from the old bank to be reimagined and appreciated within the library. Clearly contrasted against the new plywood, these special materials offer surprises to delight patrons and honor the building’s past.

Alcoves and Artifacts / 149

Wall of Alcoves | Pictured from left to

right, children's alcove, second entry (with

restrooms), study room, garden alcove with

access to storage, computer alcove and social

alcove (Founders Room).


Vault Door (Re)Installation | A group of Rural

Studio third year students help push the old

vault door into its new plywood opening.


Founders Room | Against the old storefront,

the Founders Room is the most public of

the alcoves. Wrapped in plywood, the room

includes the old vault door and a large plaque

displaying the names of library supporters.


Computer Desk Dimensions | Understanding

the human scale in relation to the desk and

cabinets was crucial in determining proper size

and location of cabinets.


Computer Alcove | Adjacent to the Librarian's

desk, the computer alcove offers a bit of

privacy for patrons to work on computers. The

room, wrapped in plywood with custom desks

and cabinets, provides an ergonomic and useful

space for both patrons and librarians.


Storage Space | This private alcove provides

a place for the librarians to securely store

large items. Built in plywood similar to the

bookshelves, these shelves were painted for

easy maintenance in the future.


Maximizing Storage | During the design of

the storage room, the team met periodically

with the library board to discuss placement

of storage elements and other items that the

board wanted the ability to store. All spaces

above alcoves were made accessible by hidden

panels, for long term storage.


Garden Room | This alcove is a place to sit, relax

and enjoy the garden and courtyard from inside

the library. A wrap around bench provides a

meeting place for small groups or individuals.

The room is wrapped in the bank's original

heart pine flooring.

Alcoves & Artifacts / 157 Alcoves and Artifacts / 157


Reusing the Heart Pine Flooring | In both the

garden alcove and the quiet study room, the

old heart pine floor was used to wrap the entire

space: floor, walls and ceiling. The wood was

cleaned, de-nailed and tongue removed for

easy install and consistent joints. All joints were

mitered to create a seamless surface in the

garden and quiet study rooms. The direction

of the wood also provided an opportunity to

enforce either the view outdoors or the tall

ceilings.


Quiet Study Room | This alcove provides

a place for an individual with a tutor to work

quietly away from the main space of the

library. Along with the old heart pine floor, a

portion of the old teller desk was reintroduced

into this room. Two steel magnet boards

bounce light and offer a place to display

Newbern history within the space.


Circulation Desk and Entry | The old teller

cabinetry made the perfect enclosure for the

librarian's desk. Folded steel details provide

a tall counter along the front of the desk and

cap exposed edges of the old wood. A custom

plywood desk accommodates filing cabinets

and a recessed area for a printer. The desk is

placed across from the computer alcove so

the librarian can monitor computer usage, and

close to the front entry to welcome visitors.


ADA Restrooms |opposite| The accessible

bathrooms are clad in the bank's old bead

board ceiling, oriented vertically to emphasize

the tall spaces naturally lit through SolaTube

skylights. Custom doors were carefully

assembled and installed to create flush surfaces

aligning with wall planes inside and outside the

restrooms.


Living Room | Nestled in the turn of the

bookcase at the back of the library, the "living

room" is a flexible space to gather for story

time or host a knitting club. This space also

transitions into a lecture space for a more

formal event.


Children's Alcove | This alcove breaks the rigor

of the other alcoves and offers a playful raised

space for parents to gather their children and

read a story. Wrapped in carpet, this soft space

allows for comfortable seating as well as an

absorbent acoustic material. The room also

offers a nice view of the Newbern playground in

the distance. Adjacent to the living room area,

the bench-height floor of the alcove provides

additional seating.


Light, Air and Sound

In designing the interior of the library and the reuse of the old Bank Building, special consideration was given to the atmospheric quality of the space. Specific materials, methods, and systems were chosen to compose a quiet, bright, comfortable space. The replaced double hung windows employ an age-old ventilation strategy. Efficient lighting and mechanical systems condition the space while keeping the utility bills affordable for the young organization. Operable shading systems, ceiling fans, and task lighting allow users to adjust their immediate environment. These mechanical and lighting systems are integrated into the space so as not to detract from the books lining the shelves.

Light, Air and Sound / 167

Sketching Air | Early diagrams explored passive

systems and methods to control daylighting

and natural ventilation.


Sun Angle Studies | These diagrams informed

the proper placement of glass within the depth

of the wall thickness to keep harsh summer sun

out (to reduce heat gain) and allow winter sun

to warm the space (to lower heating costs).


Winter Light | This progress photograph was

taken in the winter, as light floods the space to

become the living room area,


Mapping Circuits | The team worked with an

electrician to design an efficient network to

wire the various systems that go into controlling

the interior environment.


Electrical Rough-In | Students completed the

electrical rough in process as well as some of

the wiring of lighting fixtures, etc.


Artificial Lighting Diagrams | This series of

light studies looks at the use of different types

of artificial lighting, whether the lights should

directly light the shelves, bounce light off

of the ceiling or create more of an ambient

lighting condition. Task lighting at the table was

also considered in the early design of lighting

strategies.


Lighting Strategies | Recessed LED pot

lights proved to be the most efficient and

low maintenance choice for lighting the main

space. The placement of the light in relation

to the bookshelf and fan blades was tested on

site during early construction of the shelves to

make sure to prevent the strobe effect.


HVAC Vents | The space above the bookshelves

proved to be an excellent location to run

services throughout the building. This space,

affectionately known as the bulkhead, carried

air from the indoor HVAC unit into the space

via CNC-routed perforated plywood vents. The

team worked with the local HVAC installers to

design a plan that pressurized the northern

bulkhead.


Environmental Consultants

From early on in the design process, students met with consultants from Atelier Ten: Paul Stoller, Claire Maxfield and Emilie Hagen. These three encouraged the team to examine appropriate passive strategies first, and then calculated electrical and HVAC loads to confirm system selection and help the library board predict their annual power bill. Acoustic consultant Gaines Hall explained the basics of acoustics relevant to libraries.

Acoustic Materials | Perforated plywood ceiling

panels, books, carpet tiles and cork flooring

provide a number of absorptive materials on

perpendicular surfaces that keep the library

quiet and decrease reverberation.


Acoustic Canopy | With all of the rigid elements

in the library, the team saw the perforated

ceiling as an opportunity to delight in a playful

pattern that is subtle enough that one may

not even notice it. The pattern itself mimics

the canopy of trees from the courtyard with

a higher density of perforations over higher

activity zones.


Perforated Ceiling Installation |left| Using a

homemade jig made of discarded panels, the

team devised a system for lifting, clamping

and fastening the panels into place while still

making sure that each panel lined up correctly

with the series of panels before it.


Signage and Furniture

A need for both signs and furniture for the library inspired the team to expand upon the steel detailing of the windows and connection to create a consistent logic of details and accents throughout the project. Replacing the aluminum canopy, a folded steel awning is used for both shade and signage. Within the library, four custom steel tables with plywood tops provide a flexible social working space for patrons. In addition, folded steel signage fits within the bookcase to provide flexibility for collection growth overtime. This includes not only signs for Dewey decimal categories, but displays for face forward books and magnet boards for temporary displays. Applied to the steel, vinyl lettering displays graphics and text on both the awning and throughout the library.

Signage and Furniture / 179

Street Address | The library address on

Highway 61 is applied to the folded plate steel

awning.


Awning Studies |opposite| Early studies looked

at a variety of profiles, some reminiscent of the

original flat awning at the transom level, others

folded down to provide maximum shade for the

east fa�ade.

Brad SchmidtSuperior Metal WorksNewbern, Alabama

Brad worked with the team to produce all of the cut steel pieces for the project. This includes the awning (above), scupper, vestibule cladding and window frame components. Working with local steel fabricators to cut and bend steel required detailed shop drawings and clear instructions for assembly. Bending the 6-1/2’ by 7’ awning pieces required not only accurate drawings but also a few extra hands to catch the folded steel.


Welding Platform | To reduce the number of

times the team needed to lift the large awning

parts, a mobile fabricating platform was

built on trailer to allow the folded steel to be

transported to the welding site and then driven

directly to the library where it would be lifted in

place with a boom truck.


Welding the Awning | A former Rural

Studio student Zane Morgan, was gracious

enough to donate his time to help weld the

awning as well as the steel windows and tables.

Since he was donating his weekends it was

important that the team coordinate with him

prior to his visit so that all of the steel parts

were properly cut, ground and laid out so that

all he needed to do was weld.


Awning Install | Four 1/2" stainless steel

threaded rods were epoxied and bolted through

the brick wall to support the back of the folded

steel awning. Once the awning was lifted into

place, nuts and washers tightened the awning

to the brick facade.


Awning Install | A local farmer/real estate

investor brought his boom truck to lift the

awning into place. Once attached directly to

the wall, two threaded rods were installed to

tie back the awning to the facade using clevis

connections.


Awning Context |opposite| Contrary to its

weight, the minimal profile of the library awning

almost disappearsÑa delightful contrast to the

old awnings of downtown Newbern.

Awning Details |above| The awning was made

of 1/4" steel plate folded to give it rigidity. Then

a 3-1/2" angle was welded to the top to spread

the support of the two supporting rods. Clevis

connections attached to triangular gussets

made of steel angle. Similar angle gussets were

welded to the back of the awning to stiffen the

fold and also provided a place to attach rigging

for the boom truck.


Clifton BurtGraphic DesignerPortland, Oregon

Clifton advised the team on everything from donation packet design to selecting the perfect typeface for library signage. Commonly used in book publishing, Adobe Caslon is a easily legible typeface appropriate for a library. It also provided a nice contrast to the contemporary detailing of the bookcase interior.

Sheet Signage | 18 gauge sheet steel was cut

and painted with aluminum barn paint to match

the galvanized steel elements around the

building.


Insert Investigation |opposite| During early

stages of bookcase design the team decided

that any signage in the library needed to be

flexible enough that it could be moved in case

the librarians wanted to reorganize the space or

change cataloging systems.

Bookcase Inserts |above| A variety of folded

steel inserts provided options for flexibility

within the fixed module of each shelf. Inserts

include general category signs, specific

category signs, magnet boards, bookends and

display for face forward books.


Insert Fabrication Drawings | Inserts were

sized to fit within the bookcase module and

to fit efficiently when laid out on 4'x8' sheet

steel. Individual pieces were cut and folded

at Superior Metal works in Newbern. Since all

pieces are only folded once, they nest together

to take up less storage space when not in use.


Aluminum Barn Paint | Hundreds of bookends

and signs were painted with aluminum barn

paint to seal the metal and relate the inserts to

the galvanized detail language.


Steel Tables |opposite| Complimenting the

steel framed windows and openings, the large

social tables is made of four small steel tables

that could be moved and rearranged inside the

space. The tables are fabricated with 1/4" steel

angle and painted with aluminum barn paint.

Social Table |above| The four steel tables

were fitted with birch plywood tops. Tabletops

include flush mounted USB/electrical outlets for

plugging in electronics as well as task lighting

for patrons who might need additional light for

reading or working.


The Perfect Chair | Knoll Spark chairs (both

side and lounge chairs) provide a lightweight,

durable, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing

seating solution in the library. The light gray

coloration complements the silver detailing of

the project.


Katrina Van Valkenburgh and Mike NewmanChicago

Long time friends of the Rural Studio, Mike and Katrina coordinated a substantial furniture donation through their contacts in Chicago. As many of the chairs were floor models at the Knoll showroom, Katrina and Mike picked them up in Chicago and drove them all the way down to Newbern just in time for the ribbon cutting. In addition to the Spark chairs, they also coordinated the discount of an AllSteel task chair, perfect for the librarian’s desk.


Courtyard

The adjacent lot between the old bank building and the leaning gray barn once served as a gas pump for the local Walthall family. Framed by a brick screen made of the hundred year old reclaimed bricks from the old bank vault, the space now provides a shaded space for groups and individuals to gather and reflect. The surfaces are either brick or grey gravel separated by galvanize steel edging similar to the details at the windows and awning. The large flexible space is shaded by the joined canopy of nineteen Natchez Crape Myrtles.

Courtyard / 199

Xavier VendrellProfessor and Landscape Architect

Xavi was instrumental in helping design a simple, low maintenance courtyard for the library board to enjoy. He conceptualized the space as an outdoor room, with floors (and carpets), walls and ceiling-ideas that carried through to the finished space.


Maintenance Options |opposite| From early

in the design process the team began looking

at a grid of trees that would create a ceiling

condition within the courtyard. The team

communicated with a committee of local

gardeners to design the right amount of garden

planting for them to manage.

Courtyard Studies |above| Many of the small

alcoves were designed with direct relationship

with the courtyard space.

Courtyard / 201


Topography | The existing site sloped naturally

to the west which made managing surface

water on the site less complicated than a more

flat site. The permeability of different surfaces

and their relationship with the existing slope

and grade were studied and analyzed so that

water from the courtyard would be redirected

around the parking and into an existing

drainage swell.

Courtyard / 203

Parking and Septic | The local land owners

allowed the Library to install the 100' septic

mound on an adjacent lot which freed up space

behind the building for a low maintenance

gravel parking lot common to the area.


Tree Planting |above| With the use of the

bobcat and a few extra hands, all of the tree

planting was completed in one day. The holes

were dug with the auger attachment and then

cleaned out with shovels. Next the trees were

lifted into place with a strap attachment and

lowered into place.

Tree Grids |right| A variety of tree spacings and

grids were tested in the courtyard as well as

deciding which trees to remove from the grid to

create spaces to gather.

Courtyard / 205

Courtyard / 207

Library Courtyard | Materials in the courtyard

were kept to a minimum so as not to draw

attention away from the reclaimed bricks

reused for paving, drainage and screens.


Steel Edging Detail |above| Communication

through drawings with our structural engineer

in Chicago became easier as the project

progressed. A design for 1/4" steel edging

would be supported with 1/4" x 2" x 2" angle

driven into the ground and welded to the

edging. Joe and the team calculated a formula

for length of supporting angle in relation to

amount of soil being retained.

Edging Install |opposite| The process of edging

installation included: excavation, staking

and leveling of edging, driving of stakes, and

welding edging to the stakes. Once the edging

was in place, material was backfilled evenly on

both sides to prevent edging from tipping.

Courtyard / 209


Reclaimed Bricks | After deconstruction and

cleaning over 10,000 bricks from the old vault,

back wall and garden window, it was important

to the team and the community to find a good

use for the bricks. Using the bricks as a surface

and an edge condition allowed the team to

reuse almost all the bricks salvaged during the

deconstruction process.

Courtyard / 211


James WilliamsBrickmasonNewbern, Alabama

Since the team had little experience laying brick, it was clear that hiring a local mason was critical to accomplish the task of constructing the brick screens. James Williams had experience working with Rural Studio students on the Newbern Town Hall project, and proved to be an excellent craftsman along with his team of masons. Instead of providing technical drawings, the team and crew communicated on site via dry stacked mock-ups in the desired pattern.

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Brick Screen and Courtyard | The brick pattern

was designed to allow for a degree of visual

transparency between the courtyard interior,

and the highway and parking.


Huntington Carpet1-2’ tall, 6-8’ wide

rosemary

Arp or Barbeque?6’ tall, 2-4’ wide

Blonde Ambition Grama Grass3’ tall, 3’ wide

grasses

Everillo Grass1-1/2’ tall, 1-1/2’ wide

Coneflower (preferably white)3’ tall, 1-1/2’ wide

The Courtyard CommitteeDonna Dirks, Bonita Benner & Mary Jane Everett

Students worked with expert local gardeners to design a low maintenance planting strategy for the Newbern Library courtyard. The courtyard committee planted both beds and maintain the gardens as needed. Plants included two types of rosemary, grasses, white coneflowers, creeping jenny, ajuga and native spider lilies.

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Courtyard Elevation | Together with the brick

screen, the garden helps to provide a lush

buffer between the sidewalk and the interior of

the courtyard.

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Ribbon Cutting | The student team and

Newbern Library Board cut the ribbon to reveal

the completed building to a courtyard full of

friends, family and community members. A

children's choir from First Baptish Church of

Newbern sang "This Little Light of Mine."

Student Team L-R

Will Gregory Dothan, Alabama

Stephen Durham Atlanta, Georgia

Ashley Clark Birmingham Alabama

Morgan Acino Phoenix, Arizona

All four students graduated from Auburn

University in May 2013 with degrees in

architecture and interior architecture. The

Newbern Library was completed on May 2,

2015.

newbern library book

Documents