Huntingdon Valley Library

Design Collaborative Resource Center Library Renovation

The Huntingdon Valley Library, in Huntingdon Valley, PA, was able to embark on a conceptual design renovation study through a design services grant from the Community Design Collaborative. The Collaborative is a non-profit organization which provides grants to non-profits in need of design services to gain support, raise funds, and build projects. Lenhardt Rodgers was part of the volunteer design team selected by the Collaborative to provide conceptual design services to the library. The conceptual renovation design of the 100-year-old former school building and 25-year-old addition re-conceptualizes the program and configuration to transition the library from an older model of providing access to curated collections to one of becoming a community and resource center by adding a variety of meeting rooms, co-working spaces, a maker space, and lounge areas. A large emphasis is placed on the children, juvenile, and teen collections with specific program spaces to attract younger generations. Special attention in general was given to acoustics, lighting, way-finding, and signage. The design team also created a list of probable costs and construction phasing options.