Fulton County Library System, Group Renovations

In association with Chasm Architecture

Certified: LEED Silver by the U.S. Green Building Council (Roswell Branch); LEED Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council (All 6 other branches)

Awarded to Evelyn G. Lowrey Library: USGBC Georgia, Chrysalis Award for Community Impact, 2021

Starting in early 2017, Fulton County Library System retained McMillan Pazdan Smith to renovate and improve 3 large regional libraries and 4 neighborhood libraries (Dogwood Library, Kirkwood Library, Roswell Library, Sandy Springs Library,  Southwest Library (renamed the Evelyn G. Lowrey Library), Washington Park Library, and West End Library ) as part of a 23-library renovation effort with a total area of 96,000 SF across the 7 branches.

The driving motivation behind the renovation program was to redevelop existing facilities into technology integrated, communityfocused learning centers and create flexible program spaces that enhance the most successful experience, including tutoring, summer reading events, and children’s story time. Each library community is highly diverse, a challenge the design team embraced through active community input to ensure the proposed designs accurately represent their unique, individual location and user-base. Because Kirkwood, Washington Park, and West End were all originally prototypical plans, a unique feel was created for each branch by utilizing separate finish palettes, window mullion patterns, and small plan modifications that addressed the individual needs and character of the communities.

Beyond meeting the community’s individual style and needs, each renovation project was also tasked with the goals of standardizing HVAC, lighting, and technology systems to improve the staff’s ability to manage multiple libraries across a large geographic area. From space programming to technology infrastructure upgrades, to new furniture, fixture and shelving budgets, the complex process is being balanced in a carefully coordinated design-build project delivery method.