Project Description
Brooklyn Park Library Fact Sheet
Hennepin County Library – Brooklyn Park, designed by HGA Architects and Engineers, offers welcoming new innovative spaces for all learners for this suburban community north of Minneapolis.
The 39,000 square-foot library includes a plaza; entry lobby; customer service area; children’s, teen, and adult collection areas; a multipurpose room; large meeting room; eight smaller meeting/study rooms; computer stations; back-of-house support space; vehicular and pedestrian book-drop; and an outdoor garden.
Three community-developed themes guided the technology-rich design—Geography, World Culture, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). For instance, an interactive early literacy area incorporates exploration and engineering challenges, and a teen area includes a tech center encouraging collaboration and content creation.
The exterior features a split-faced, stacked-slate façade with zinc metal panels and western red-cedar accents; sloped roof forms; and expansive windows. An entry plaza with soaring canopy leads to an open-plan interior that includes a variety of seating and study options and abundant natural light from tall windows and clerestories. A cedar ceiling extends to the entry canopy, aesthetically connecting the interior to exterior.
The project followed the State of Minnesota B3 Guidelines to meet the sustainable goal of 60 percent better than a similar building. Initiatives include a raised-access floor for heating/cooling, efficient air handlers with energy-recovery wheel, daylighting with occupancy-sensor lighting controls, all LED interior and exterior lighting, and low-maintenance landscape.
Additionally, Hennepin County Library commissioned two public art pieces, including a wall mural and a bike rack sculpture.