The single-story Yorktown Library was originally constructed in 1983 and is located along the George Washington Memorial Highway that takes travelers into our nation’s colonial historic district. The important colonial settlements of Yorktown, Jamestown, and Williamsburg comprise what is known as the Historic Triangle.
The exterior of the building was composed in red brick with burnished block accents and the interior features a rich wood ceiling, beams, and columns. Although the original building does not have many exterior windows, natural light enters the center of the interior space through a long clerestory window.
Plans for expansion and renovation of the library building began with purchasing the vacant parcel of land on the corner of George Washington Memorial Highway and Battle Road. The added land allows the Library to re-orient the parking lot and expand the building while maintaining access roads to the east and west of the site.
The expansion addresses the main road into historic Yorktown and features an expansive glass façade that highlights new activity within the building. This type of visibility generates interest and attracts visitors and residents passing by on this primary thoroughfare. The form of the addition reflects the angled elements along the west façade of the original building and encloses the 3 archways that currently signify the main entrance. A new entry has been developed in alignment with the new parking area for intuitive flow.
One of the archways has remaining storefront glass and has been repurposed as a window into the technology training room. The remaining arches are left open to flow between the original and expanded portions of the building acting as a gateway into the Adult Area.
The addition houses a new prominent Reading Room adjacent to the entry, new enclosed Children’s Area, Children’s Program Room, Teen Area, Large Meeting Room, Vending Café, Restrooms, and Lobby with a Service Point and New Materials display.