LIBRARY
Cuyahoga County Public Library
Brooklyn Branch
Cuyahoga County
Public Library
Brooklyn Branch
A vibrant, light filled pavilion where civic presence meets neighborhood warmth, comprised of thoughtfully crafted spaces, that invites extended exploration and discovery.
—Always By Design
A vibrant, light filled pavilion where civic presence meets neighborhood warmth, comprised of thoughtfully crafted spaces, that invites extended exploration and discovery.
—Always By Design
A vibrant, light filled pavilion where civic presence meets neighborhood warmth, comprised of thoughtfully crafted spaces, that invites extended exploration and discovery.
—Always By Design
A vibrant, light filled pavilion where civic presence meets neighborhood warmth, comprised of thoughtfully crafted spaces, that invites extended exploration and discovery.
—Always By Design
The new Brooklyn Branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library emerges as a luminous civic anchor within Brooklyn's municipal campus. The dynamic 25,000-square-foot pavilion exemplifies the contemporary library experience as media-rich, technologically innovative, and socially engaging.
Structured around a central organizing spine, the pavilion-like interior unfolds through strategic sight lines and flexible spaces anchored by a welcoming hearth. Origami-inspired folded planes cascade throughout the building—from dramatic roof forms to custom 'bird' pendant fixtures—creating a unified geometric language that speaks to transformation and discovery. Expansive glazing dissolves the boundary between interior and exterior while directing views to an outdoor reading garden, connecting people to place through thoughtfully curated relationships between indoor and outdoor spaces. Acoustical treatments carefully balance visual openness with acoustic control, creating a space that flows together while providing separation between active and quiet uses.
The facility's imaginative children's area, themed around Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor's "Just Ask," features interactive climbing elements and vibrant graphics that celebrate curiosity and inclusion, anchoring one wing of the building with lively play. This active zone flows seamlessly into quiet study areas and the Innovation Center makerspace where advanced technologies and production equipment support workforce development. The careful choreography of program elements—from the Digital Learning Lab to flexible meeting spaces—creates distinct zones while maintaining visual connectivity throughout
The building's exterior provides a modern interpretation of the city hall across the street, balancing expansive glazing with the natural warmth of linear brick, fiber reinforced concrete panels, and wood accents. This thoughtful integration of program, material, and space creates a library that serves as both neighborhood gathering place and forward-thinking educational hub for Brooklyn's evolving community.
LOCATION
Brooklyn, OH
Cleveland, OH
SIZE
27,000 SF
27,000 SF
SERVICES
FIRM ROLE
Stakeholder Engagement
Architecture
Interior Design
Furniture Design
MEP Engineering
