Boston Public Library
East Boston Branch Library
Project
East Boston Branch Library
Client
Boston Public Library
Location
Boston, MA
Completion
2013
Size
14,800 GSF
Certification
LEED Gold Certified
Category
Civic Realm
Overlooking the Bremen Street Park, the new East Boston Branch of the Boston Public Library serves the entire East Boston community, one of Boston’s fastest-growing and most diverse neighborhoods. The project includes an open-plan community reading room with views of the park and the Boston skyline, dedicated areas for adults, children & teens, a quiet reading room, a conference room and community space for multipurpose programs. A Reading Porch runs the length of the building along the park, providing outdoor space for reading, congregating, and using the wireless internet network. Flexibility and a focus on early literacy programming define this compact, technologically advanced branch library.
The East Boston Library has exceeded my admittedly high standard for a branch that is functional, beautiful, and welcoming to people from all over the world and of all ages.
Amy Ryan, Former President, Boston Public Library
A COMMUNITY-BASED DESIGN PROCESS
The design of many of our library projects are the result of a direct and sustained conversation with residents of surrounding neighborhoods for whom a library visit is often multi-generational. At the East Boston Branch of the Boston Public Library, families wanted to be able to see each other rather than have children, teens, parents and grandparents in different spaces. Thus, the East Boston library transforms the conventional library organization into a single environment with zones - a place of togetherness.
DESIGN PROCESS
Key stakeholders engage with a model of the proposed library
During a meeting with the community, a WRA team member discusses the design of the library
Large-scale physical models help residents and library users to clearly understand design options and share feedback
A member of the WRA design team presents the design proposal to members of the community
An interior model of the library helps to bring the proposed layout to life
Awards + Press
Four-Time BSA Harleston Parker Medal Finalist (2014-2016, 2018)
2018 BSA Interior Architecture/Design Citation
2017 National AIA/ALA Library Building Award
2017 AIA New England Design Merit Award
2016 Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Award
2015 BSA Harleston Parker Medal People's Choice Award
2014 BSA Harleston Parker Medal People's Choice Award
Architectural Record, “Narrative Arc,” March 2015
Boston Sunday Globe, “Library without walls,” Robert Campbell, March 2014
Modern Steel Construction, “Reading Between the Lines,” July 2013
Project Consultants
Structural Engineer | LeMessurier Consultants, Inc.
Mechanical / Electrical Engineer | Cosentini Associates, Inc.
Civil Engineer | Stantec
Landscape Architect | Landworks Studio, Inc.
Interior Designer | Lab [3.2] Architecture
Lighting Consultant | Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design
Acoustical Engineer | Acentech Inc.
AV Consultant Cosentini Associates
Photographer | Robert Benson