Library & gallery adjoin existing theatre to enhance town centre destination
Tenderstream member Keith Williams Architects has designed the new DeValera Library & Súil Art Gallery for Clare County Council, on a prominent site in the county town of Ennis. By placing the library and gallery beside an existing theatre, the project has created a new cultural nexus uniting the three primary colours of the arts – visual, literary and performing – into a single complex, serving the town, county and region.
The library, gallery and 485-seat Glór theatre are interlinked through a new double height colonnaded portico and main entrance, maximising connectivity between the arts triptych contained within. The new building is wrapped in a 10m high curved reconstituted stone façade that unites the entire complex, while a large window in the main facade creates daytime views from the library interior and main staircase to the park outside. As dusk falls, the glazing appears to dissolve, and the inner glow of the library is revealed to the world.
The polished reconstructed stone façade is integral with pre-cast concrete panels, which made it possible to create the flowing external form whilst also delivering finely detailed surfaces. The structure is a combination of a reinforced concrete frame with steel superstructure, while the substructure is composed of mass concrete and piled foundations driven by the geotechnic analysis of the ground conditions. The structural concrete mix incorporates GGBS (Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag), a sustainable alternative to traditional cement that reduces its environmental impact. The thermal inertia of the structure allowed energy to be better managed by natural means, which was a key part of achieving a targeted NZEB outcome.
The library is the largest element within the new complex, containing more than 73,000 books, numerous publications, archives and other media over its two floors. The County Library Service has been placed in a simple bar of adaptable office space above the library, whilst the gallery with its adjoining sculpture court sits across from the main entrance.
Lucy Nordberg
Tenderstream Head of Research
This tender was first published by Tenderstream on 24.02.2014 here
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