Eastham Public Library
Location
Eastham, MA
Completed
2016
Size
18,000 SF
Owners
Town of Eastham
The Board of
Eastham Library Trustees
Architect
Oudens Ello Architecture
Photographer
© Chuck Choi
Design Team
This new Cape Cod library, situated on a hillside site overlooking one of the town’s many ponds, replaces a 1980’s building that no longer met the demands of a growing community, nor a population that dramatically increases each year during the busy summer months. The project preserves and enhances the original one-room library building dating to 1898, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The majority of the redesigned building program – lobby, multipurpose community room, circulation desk, adult reading room and stacks – is located on the upper level, arranged around a central reading garden, and takes full advantage of the dramatic pond views. The lower level houses the children and young adult areas, with direct access to an outdoor program area. The building maximizes flexibility of use, both during normal library hours as well as during off-hour community use, and promotes adaptability to future program changes, at the same time incorporating the latest green building technologies. The project has received a LEED Gold rating from the US Green Building Council.