Palmetto Library

Palmetto Library
© Liam Strain

PALMETTO LIBRARY

Houser Walker Architecture

PHOTOGRAPHS
Liam Strain

FIRE PROTECTION
Johnson Spellman & Associates

MANUFACTURERS
Metaltech-usa, Pilkington, Interface, James Hardie, Marshfield Door Systems

AREA
10500 ft²

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
The Jaeger Company

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
Sykes Consulting Engineers

MEPFP ENGINEERING
Johnson Spellman Associates

LEAD ARCHITECTS
Gregory Walker, David Esterline

CLIENT
Fulton Public Library System

MEP ENGINEER
Johnson Spellman Associates

CATEGORY
Library

LOCATION
United States

YEAR
2014

Text description provided by architect.

The Palmetto Library is a new, $3.5M facility serving the communities of Palmetto and Chattahoochee Hills in a largely rural but developing region just outside of Atlanta, GA.

Palmetto Library
© Liam Strain
Palmetto Library
© Liam Strain

Our design for the library takes inspiration from local vernacular structures and, in particular, a nearby large agricultural barn.

We were inspired by the barn’s presence in the landscape, it’s interior volume, and material presence.

As we began considering our design and its response to the local terrain and climate, we saw the barn as a befitting formal prototype.

Palmetto Library
© Liam Strain
Palmetto Library
© Liam Strain
Palmetto Library
© Liam Strain

In response to the program needs, we took the volumetric profile of the existing structure and sliced it into quarters, with each section containing one portion of the full program.

Through a subsequent series of adjustments to its volume, views, winds, and daylight, each “box” was adjusted, rotated, and openings inserted. Filling the space between the “boxes” are a sky-lit entry sequence and building services.

Palmetto Library
© Liam Strain
Palmetto Library
© Liam Strain

The resulting composition recalls the profile of the barn while transforming it into a presence more suited to a public structure.

Each ‘box’ contains a portion of the overall program. The adult and children’s resource areas will act as large reading rooms, with ceilings soaring to 18+ feet and carefully controlled natural light filtering through the space.

Palmetto Library
© Liam Strain
Palmetto Library
© Liam Strain

A community meeting room occupies one ‘box’ and the back of house staff workplaces another.

Exterior materials include a composite siding rain screen, zinc roofing, corrugated cor-ten steel, and siding to recall the original barn.

Palmetto Library
© Liam Strain
Palmetto Library
© Liam Strain
Palmetto Library
© Liam Strain

Each ‘box’ is painted a slightly different color and paired with a different regional wood at the interior.

The structure is certified LEED Silver.


Palmetto Library
© Liam Strain
Palmetto Library
© Liam Strain
Palmetto Library
© Liam Strain
Palmetto Library
© Liam Strain
Palmetto Library
© Liam Strain
Palmetto Library
© Liam Strain


Palmetto Library
East West Section
Palmetto Library
North South Section


Palmetto Library
Floor Plan
Palmetto Library
Site Plan


Palmetto Library
Diagrams
Palmetto Library
Sketch
Palmetto Library
Environmental Section
Palmetto Library
Elevations