The Community Library

Balancing History and Innovation

The Community Library’s renovation and addition revitalized its infrastructure and programs to meet the educational and cultural needs of central Idaho. Serving the picturesque Sun Valley community as a unique non-profit, it successfully blends heritage with innovation, fostering civic engagement and future readiness.

The (re)Imagined Community Library celebrates its surrounding environment and trailblazing identity while inspiring a continued curiosity of the library’s rich collection. It also reinforces greater flexibility with a commitment to accessibility, diversity, and inclusion.

Large diagonal beams connected to selective walls, and the creation of a signature “mountain of books”, reference Idaho’s forested landscape while uniquely applying a modern touch to the original architecture.

The Greenest Building

The libraries’ environmental impact was significantly reduced through the reuse and repurposing of the existing nearly 50-year-old building, aligning with the ethos that the greenest building is the one that already exists.

Integrating Heritage

Redwood panels reclaimed from a nearby historic water tank were selectively used throughout the library, creating a textural gesture to local history.

Designing for Longevity

The design emphasizes flexibility and longevity with folding glass walls for room formation, integrating collection areas into community spaces for constant use, ensuring adaptability and vitality.