Combining old with new, the Atlanta Fulton Central Library renovation elevates a 1980’s Brutalist structure into a modern library for the 21st century.
Designed by the late Marcel Breuer, the Central Library is an iconic precast concrete sculptural form, that playfully explores the contrast between dark and light.
The renovated facility preserves the integrity of this architectural icon, while promoting health and learning with versatile spaces designed to accommodate a wide range of social services and events.
The interior design strategy prioritizes accessibility, flexibility and transparency, with multi-function collaboration spaces located throughout. A two-story atrium wraps the central staircase, promoting activation and connection between floors. Skylights draw light deep into the building core of the previously dim-lit space.
Community Informed Design
The preservation of storied urban spaces protects the cultural heritage of a community, investing in both the health and long-term economic vitality of a neighborhood. The renovation and updated program distribution reposition the library as a community destination, accessible to a wide population of users.
The second-floor hosts GED classes and a testing facility, with more than 100 computers for public access, giving adults critical access to educational and employment opportunities.
By renovating instead of building entirely new, 95% of the existing building structure and envelope was reused. The decision to renovate the existing structure instead of build entirely new preserves the cultural history of both the library and the neighborhood it serves.
