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This article was first published 12 years ago

Stunning images of a library in Texas

Last updated on: July 11, 2012 12:40 IST

Image: Let's take a look at the beautiful library.
Photographs: George Frey/Reuters

These days whenever there is an empty space in a town or a city, developers move in and start constructing multi-storey buildings, but a town in the United States has utilised an empty space very differently.

McAllen, a town in Texas, turned an old abandoned Walmart, a 124,000 square foot space into a public library, which makes it the biggest single-storey library in the United States.

The building's interior was designed by Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle as part of a team led by Boultinghouse Simpson Architects of McAllen, who designed the building's exterior.

Let's take a look at the beautiful library, thanks to Lara Swimmer, a photographer who shot the images and agreed to share them with us.

Courtesy, Lara Swimmer, Swimmer Photo

Click NEXT to see the library...

Stunning images of a library in Texas

Image: The challenge was to turn this space into a library.
Photographs: Courtesy, Lara Swimmer

After Walmart abandoned one of its retail stores in McAllen, Texas, the town decided to reuse the structure as a new main library.

The primary challenge of reusing the building was to create a highly functional, flexible library of 124,500 square feet on a single level.

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Tags: McAllen , Texas

Stunning images of a library in Texas


Photographs: Courtesy, Lara Swimmer

Primary programme areas of the building - including community meeting rooms, the children's library, adult services, and the staff area - are located in quadrants of the building.

This clear organisation allows easy wayfinding and patron access from a central service spine, delineated by a patterned wood ceiling that runs the length of the building.

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Tags: , Texas

Stunning images of a library in Texas


Photographs: Courtesy, Lara Swimmer

A secondary spine in orange bisects the first to further distinguish the public community meeting rooms from the private staff area and the children's from the adult services areas.

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Stunning images of a library in Texas


Photographs: Courtesy, Lara Swimmer

The library has a lot of empty space, which creates a very releaxing atmosphere.

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Stunning images of a library in Texas


Photographs: Courtesy, Lara Swimmer

The service area provides space for both children and adults.

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Stunning images of a library in Texas


Photographs: Courtesy, Lara Swimmer

The building has been designed in such a way that those who want to catch up with reading can do so in peace and quiet.

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Tags: , Texas

Stunning images of a library in Texas


Photographs: Courtesy, Lara Swimmer

All the sections are clearly marked with big signs.

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Stunning images of a library in Texas


Photographs: Courtesy, Lara Swimmer

Bright colours have turned the library into a beautiful place.

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Tags: , Texas

Stunning images of a library in Texas


Photographs: Courtesy, Lara Swimmer

The library also has lounges for people to read.

Tags: Texas