PROJECT: Amy Sanders Library
FIRM: Taggart Architects
CONTRACTOR: Flynco
LOCATION: Sherwood
The site for this 14,500-SF building is a heavily wooded 15-acre parcel with a steep slope falling off from the street. The design team, along with the city of Sherwood, decided to take the approach of setting the building within the existing trees and steep terrain rather than the more typical approach of clearing the trees and leveling the ground.
Taking advantage of the natural topography to string the public functions along a ridge, facilitating easy entry from parking into the building without stairs or ramps, the team capitalized on the steep terrain at the rear by projecting the reading room elevated on columns out into the woods, giving the impression that one is in a treehouse.
Designs for this site’s future include a small exterior amphitheater that takes advantage of the natural site slope and hiking paths throughout the wooded site.
OWNER/CLIENT
Central Arkansas Library System
PROJECT TEAM
Steve Grisham, AIA
Alan New, AIA
James Bakanovic, AIA
CONSULTANTS
TME
Robbins Engineering
Thomas Engineering
Landscape Architecture Inc.
Julie Grisham Interiors
PHOTOGRAPHER
Ken West
See more profiles from the 2018 AIA Arkansas Design Awards.