This project for the Nashville Public Library centered on the revitalization of a failing shopping mall and the surrounding neighborhood to create a fresh look for the building and setting not resembling its former use.

The City acquired a former 60,000 SF JC Penney store that anchored one portion of the mall and converted it into a fresh and energetic 25,000 SF Library and 30,000 SF Community Center. The facility shares a 24 hour lobby that provides vending, lockers, library materials drop-off, access to meeting rooms, and touch-screen displays with access to the library’s downloadable materials catalog.

Modifications to the building included opening up the facade to the park with large expanses of glass and light monitors bringing natural light into the center of the space. The library exterior is a mosaic of blue glass panels with highlighted views framed in clear glass blending with the solid panel mosaic on the community center portion of the building.

A large portion of the oversized parking lot was converted into a 5 acre community park with walking trails and a pavilion. The park serves as a front yard to the library and community center. The combined services for this site revitalize the mind, the spirit, and the body.
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LEED Gold Certified

2017 Gale/Library Journal - Library of the Year: Nashville Public Library

2015 "Top Innovator" Award by the Urban Libraries Council

2014 "Large Project of the Year" Award by the Urban Land Institute - Public Sector

2014 "Project of the Year" by the Tennessee Development District Association, Greater Nashville Regional Council