Something old, something new, something borrowed, something green

This is an awesome project- Converting an abandoned Wal-Mart into a thriving public library.

something old, something new

• The old McAllen Memorial Library was located in downtown McAllen, TX. The building opened in 1950, and it was in operation for 60 years. The 40,000 square foot facility had three floors and housed a collection count of 330,394 items. The community of McAllen was excited to have "a new home, new look, and new direction for their library." (McAllen Public Library)

• The new McAllen Public Library opened its doors on December 10, 2011 in a restored Wal-Mart warehouse. The 123,000 square foot building is located on 4001 N. 23rd Street McAllen, TX. Compared to the old library, the new, single floor library is home to a collection count of 355,794 items. (More features are listed below that were not capable for the old library.) Because the city of McAllen is close to the Mexican border, one role the community wanted the new library to encompass was a safe environment for teens after school free of drugs or violence.

OLD Exterior

 

NEW Exterior

OLD Interior

NEW Interior

OLD MCALLEN LIBRARY

NEW MCALLEN LIBRARY

Opened: 1950 Size: 40,000 square feet Collection Count: 330,394 items Floors: 3 Public Meeting Rooms: 2 Public Study Rooms: 3 Public Computer Lab: 29 Special Features: ground floor atrium, patio, used book store

Opened: December 10, 2011 Size: 123,000 square feet   Collection Count: 355,794 items Floors: 1 Public Meeting Spaces: 16 Public Study Rooms: 14 Public Computer Lab: 64 Children's Computer Lab: 10 Teen's Computer Lab: 6 Genealogy Computer Lab: 2  Special Interior Features: teen area, cafe, auditorium, quiet reading room, self-check out units, art gallery, electronic classrooms, meeting rooms with audiovisual services, expanded children's area, used book store, automated materials handling system, themed wood ceiling and other special interior design features Special Exterior Features: extensive landscaping, Dewey Learning Trail, front mall area with one water feature, entrance canopy, drive-up book drop, exterior children's area, over 350 parking spaces

something borrowed, something green

• Building new requires a lot of materials and resources. On the flip side, demolishing an old structure wastes materials such as windows, doors, fixtures, etc. that could be salvaged and recycled or re-purposed in a different space. That's what makes this project such an awesome example of  green design! Although the architects/design teams weren't working toward LEED credits for the project, the McAllen Public Library was successfully able to transform a huge, empty Wal-Mart shell into a functional, flexible, and aesthetically pleasing space.
• As buildings age and materials/furnishings become outdated, it is important for designers and architects to create a timeless design that can last for its users. (Because no one wants to relive the days of ornate flower wallpaper and wood panel walls.) Whether we want to face it or not, the future of design is adopting green practices left and right that are safe for its end users and the environment.
• On that note, here are some more inspiring stories of abandoned Big-Box stores being converted into schools, a church, and much more. Check here to check their stories out! Big-Box Reuse

Resources:
Mcallen Public Library
Google Images