Haley Kell

NARRATIVE

As part of the St. Louis County Library District (SLCL), the Oak Bend Branch received a gut interior renovation to accommodate new interior finishes, shelving, furniture and reoriented age-specific areas. While new programming standards were developed and applied to all 22 SLCL branches, each branch received a unique design, catered to the surrounding community and needs of the patrons. At Oak Bend, the redesigned floor plan included a large, central circulation desk with a custom decorative light fixture to welcome patrons upon entering the building. Carpet patterns and accent colors were used to define spaces and improve wayfinding. The floor plan was carefully developed to ensure proper sight lines and staff workflow was maintained.  

 

A playful palette and feature entry design leads young patrons into an enclosed Children's Area, where they can discover, learn, and play in a space designed specifically for them.  Browsing bins allow children to select their own books with ease. Family-friendly furniture welcomes reading time and parent interaction. The Teen Area includes a similar architectural feature element to create a distinct space, with a more sophisticated navy color palette and large soffit. A laptop bar and funky furniture complete the space. 

 

The branch has plenty of collaboration areas including private study rooms, large and small meeting rooms, computer lab, and cafe area. For patrons who prefer a quieter library setting, there is a designated Quiet Room equipped with comfortable lounge chairs and reading tables. New metal shelving was programmed to accommodate the Branch's collection. To complete the design, the Main Collection, Teen and Children's Areas each received a custom end panel design and fully coordinated furniture finish selections.  

Size: 16,857 SF Renovation

Cost: $3 M

FFE Product Cost: Undisclosed

Completion Date: Fall 2016

Roles: Lead Interior Designer

           Programming through CA

           FF&E Selections and Specification