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Tangipahoa Parish Library - Amite, Louisiana
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Tangipahoa Parish Library

The new Tangipahoa Parish Library Headquarters is located in downtown Amite, La. along Central Avenue next to the fire station. The building is two stories, comprising 19,948 s.f. Because the site is a long and narrow piece of property that spans across the entire block, the design uses this as an opportunity to connect the downtown with the historic residential neighborhood facing N. Laurel St. The building sits close to the street on the downtown side and allows for visitor parking in the rear. Although the primary entrance is located on the west side facing the railroad tracks, the building can also be entered from the east. At the western entry, visitors are greeted by an outdoor plaza, followed by a fenced-in children’s courtyard. A portion of the building extends out closer to the street on the north west. This piece houses the public meeting room with roof top terrace above. Upon entering, the visitor is guided through the library along a main spinal circulation corridor which extends all the way through to the parking in the rear. All of the public library functions are located to the right while administration and library staff are positioned along the left. This spinal circulation space is expressed in the architecture of the building and is repeated at the second floor. This planning tool allows for clarity in way finding as well as simplicity in the organization of the library functions. The public library portion includes a large area for the children’s library, a multi-media and browsing area, a young adult area, fiction and non-fiction and finally a closed off quiet area called the “living room”. On the second floor, which is accessed via elevator or stair, is the local history/ genealogy area. This space is situated within a double height volume which over-looks down into the first floor library spaces. There are public use computer lab directly across from the local history area as well as access to the public-use roof terrace. The design utilizes daylighting strategies to harvest natural light. This will allow the library to function with primarily natural lighting only for most of the day. Daylighting allows for a much greater energy savings as well as a better quality of light for reading thereby making it a win-win situation. Exterior materials are primarily brick with some use of standing seam metal wall panels in key locations. It is anticipated that the new library will be a great asset for Tangipahoa Parish and an economic stimulus for downtown Amite.
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