david adjaye plans new public library and events center for florida

david adjaye’s conceptual design for a new library and events center in florida has been unanimously approved by local authorities. to be built in winter park, a city near orlando, the $30 million USD project will consolidate and replace the site’s existing buildings and will form part of a reinvigorated park setting. ‘our goal is to create a vibrant community village that engages the beauty of the park, maximizes social interactive spaces and holds collaborative learning and education at its core,’ explains adjaye. ‘I am thrilled that winter park has embraced our vision, which is truly about celebrating of the city’s heritage and preparing for its future.’

all images courtesy of adjaye associates

the future ‘winter park public library and events center’ comprises a micro-village of three pavilions, each of different scale and function. adjaye associates’ design features arches that serve as a nod to the region’s vernacular architecture, while vaulted rooflines and sweeping windows help establish a connection between interior and exterior space. resting on an elevated ‘belvedere’, the three structures house the library, event center, and a new welcome pavilion.

vaulted rooflines help establish a connection between interior and exterior space

‘we tasked the design team with creating an inspirational complex to provide a multitude of uses,’ says winter park mayor steve leary. ‘it has to provide a 21st century learning environment while also incorporating an entertainment venue for the community. we wanted a unique and forward-looking aesthetic that still felt true to our heritage and it had to be ‘of the park’ rather than simply a structure within the park. sir david and his team delivered on our request and exceeded our expectations.’

construction is to get underway in fall 2018, with a targeted completion date set for 2020

internally, flexible floorplates have been designed to include a range of facilities, including: interactive youth and children areas, an indoor auditorium, makerspaces and technology portals, a business center, educational spaces, historical and archival collection spaces, community meeting areas, and private reading rooms. adjaye associates is collaborating with architect of record hunton brady, owner’s representative pizzuti solutions, and construction management team brasfield & gorrie and lamm & company. construction is to get underway in fall 2018, with a targeted completion date set for 2020.

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