WORKac’s dynamic and community-focused library in Boulder, Colorado, serves a diverse neighbourhood of new developments, art studios, and Spanish-speaking communities.

Photos
Bruce Damonte

Won in competition by NYC-based practice WORKac, North Boulder Library, Colorado, is situated on a triangular plot at the intersection of Broadway and Three Mile Creek. A seasonal creek runs through the plot, shaping the building’s layout and connection to the surrounding landscape. The project was developed through extensive community engagement, with the final design reflecting key aspirations, including Boulder Reads, a literacy program for children and adults, and Maker Kitchen, a hybrid space combining a maker studio with a communal kitchen and garden.

The two-storey building mediates between a residential neighbourhood to the north and expansive mountain views to the south. Its massing is intended to respect the scale of surrounding homes, while a fully accessible ramp leading to the second-floor community spaces permits evening use even when the library is closed. The ramp is articulated by an interactive sound installation, designed by Daily tous les jours, which plays music as visitors ascend and descend.

Externally, the building’s angular geometry mirrors its triangular site, creating a striking yet contextually responsive form. Four distinct entrances encourage permeability, linking the neighbourhood with Fourmile Canyon Creek Park. Large windows maximise daylight and provide dramatic mountain views, while the surrounding landscape features an edible garden and children’s playground.

Inside, the design balances openness with intimate, engaging spaces. The main reading room and children’s area feature playful elements, including a climbing structure that leads to an indoor slide, seamlessly connecting the interior with the outdoor play space. Besoke wallpaper by Andrew Freeman, incorporating archival images of Boulder, celebrates the area’s indigenous and cultural history.

While initial net-zero energy plans were revised due to economic constraints following the COVID-19 pandemic, Boulder’s stringent environmental policies ensured that the library maintains high sustainability standards. A rooftop solar array generates a significant portion of the building’s energy, while a rainwater garden planted with native, pollinator-friendly species mitigates runoff and protects the seasonal creek.

“Today and every day we endeavour to render architecture more human, to turn the pragmatic fantastic, and to reclaim the ‘best’ in ‘best practice’ away from the technocratic and towards the creative,” commented WORKac’s Amale Andraos and Dan Wood. “We approach every project, regardless of scale, program, type or context with the same passion, drawing resolute realism together with polemical optimism.”

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