Portfolio: Libraries University Branch Library Project Fort Bend County University Branch Library, Sugar Land Client Fort Bend County Architect Bailey Architects Design team Ray Bailey, FAIA; Cope Bailey; Mark Boone, AIA; Ray Leiker, AIA; Eric Rosipal, AIA; Lane Wolf Contractor EE Reed Construction Consultants Brown & Gay Engineers (civil); SCA Consulting Engineers (structural); Kudela & Weinheimer (landscape); Burns DeLatte & McCoy (MEP); DataCom Design Group (IT/AV); Spiker Baldwin Associates (specifications); Brian Hole & Associates (cost) Photographer Aker Imaging
University Branch Library, designed by Bailey Architects, is a two-story, 40,000-sf building on approximately 4.2 acres of the University of Houston Sugar Land campus. The library — for both university and public use — includes a variety of children and young adult services, reference resources, meeting and study areas, and staff work spaces. The building features dual entries on the ground level — a public entrance on the parking side and a university entrance from the quadrangle, which is accessible to students. A light monitor located above a central monumental stair and atrium visually connects the first and second levels, providing natural light to the core of both levels during the daytime. At night, the monitor is internally illuminated. The second level is oriented toward the student plaza and is highlighted with a reading “porch” overlook. The plaza side of the building incorporates bench seating with the landscaping to encourage a collaborative learning environment. Ground-level services include a community group meeting room, children’s “Storytime” room, children’s and young adult library services, and adult fiction and browsing collections. A computer lab, adult nonfiction collection, and group study and conference facilities are housed on the second floor.
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86 Texas Architect
9/10 2012
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Resources
concrete materials: Southern Star Concrete;
Interstate Brick (Upchurch Kimbrough Company); cast stone: Innovative Cast Stone; metal materials/stairs/handrails/ roof joists: Jarco Steel; architectural woodwork/ laminates: Century Millwork; waterproofing: Henry; roof/ wall panels: NOW Specialties; hollow metal/wood doors:
Houston Builders Hardware; preassembled aluminum frame units and glass metal : Frameworks/ASSA ABLOY; automatic entrance doors: ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems; overhead doors: The Cookson Company; glass: PPG Industries; glazed curtainwall : Kawneer; gypsum fabrications: Temple-Inland; vapor retarders: Stego Industries; tile : DalTile, Thorntree
Slate & Marble; resilient flooring: Mannington, Armstrong; carpet : Milliken; acoustical ceilings: USG; paints/high performance coatings: Sherwin Williams; exterior sun control : PeachTree Protective Covers; library equipment :
3M Library Systems; window treatments: Mechoshade (Katy Blinds Commercial)
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First Floor 1 Lobby 2 Stage 3 Help Desk 4 Seminar Room 5 Meeting Room 6 Work Room 7 Roll-Down Grille 8 Book Handling 9 Office 10 Break Room 11 Storage 12 Mechanical
fences: Astro Fence; planting Grates: Ironsmith; brick :
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deck insulation : Johns Manville (Universal Sheetmetal);
include highperformance glass and use of exterior sun-shading devices; energy-efficient building materials, lighting systems, and mechanical systems; “Energy Star” roofing products; concrete paving instead of asphalt to reduce the heat island effect; exterior lighting fixtures selected to reduce light pollution in adherence to “Dark Sky” design principles; low VOC materials; and water-conserving plumbing fixtures, landscaping materials, and irrigation systems.
Sustainable design strategies
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