Bulverde / Spring Branch Public Library

Bulverde, Texas
14,381 SF

Marmon Mok was selected to design the Bulverde/Spring Branch Library Expansion, located near the intersection of U.S. Route 281 and Texas State Highway 46 on top of a prominent hill along the south eastern edge of what constitutes as the Texas Hill Country. The existing library was built in 2008 and it consists of 19,952 SF, currently housing an administration suite, small children’s area, three small meeting rooms, education resource room, friends of the library workroom, two small classrooms, children’s collections, adult collections, and a quiet room. Existing amenities and features include: a shaded porch overlooking the hill country to the east of the meeting rooms; a stone wall enclosed courtyard on the west near the entrance to the library; a butterfly garden located towards the southeast of the property; a veteran’s monument near the entrance; donor pavers in the courtyard; and a rainwater collection cistern at the bottom of the hill on the northeast portion of the site.

The new expansion will consist of approximately 14,381 SF to accommodate a new children’s area, teen area, community meeting spaces, catering and demonstration kitchen, expanded administrative suite, multiple study rooms, media lab, meeting room and classroom.

The design of the new expansion breaks away from the existing gable roof lines and provides shed roofs opening up towards the east and the west, evoking the image of an open book when seen from the north. It provides a completely new and fresh look to the front and entrance to the building while respecting the existing building. The roof extensions to the east and west serve to define and protect new outdoor porches which are so very common in the architecture of the region. The design at the west porch shading structure incorporates playful and colorful accents arranged to suggest book spines, to enhance the entry experience, and to celebrate the spirit of the library.