12.01 Narrative and Seasonal Environmental Diagrams
12.02 HVAC Systems Diagram
12.03 Lower Level HVAC Plan
12.04 Main Level HVAC Plan
12.05 Second Level HVAC Plan
12.06 Third Level HVAC Plan
13.00 Building Performance
13.01 Narrative
13.02 Initial Building Daylighting Analysis
13.02 Revised Building Daylighting Analysis
14.00 Environmental Impact
14.01 Environmental Impact Narrative and Initial Carbon Analysis
14.02 Revised Carbon Analysis
15.00 Perspectives
15.01 Exterior Day Perspective
15.02 Exterior Night Perspective
15.03 Main Entry Perspective
15.04 Performance Atrium
15.05 Lower Level Reading Room
15.06 Kids Library
15.07 Music Practice Rooms
15.08 Auditorium
The Bennett Martin Library site is subject to regulatory requirements set by the City of Lincoln’s zoning and planning codes. Located within a mixed-use urban district, the site is governed by zoning regulations that support both civic and commercial development, encouraging pedestrian-friendly design and active street edges. Setback, height, and lot coverage restrictions are relatively flexible, allowing for contextsensitive development that complements the surrounding scale. ADA compliance, fire access, and public safety standards must be integrated into the design, especially considering the site's potential for high public use. Stormwater management and sustainability guidelines established by the city also apply, promoting responsible site drainage and environmentally conscious building practices. These regulatory frameworks collectively shape a design response that must be both functional and community-oriented while aligning with Lincoln’s broader planning vision.
UL types:
Project Address: 136 S 14th St, Lincoln, NE 68508
Building Code And Zoning Constraints: Zone B-4, Business and Commercial Uses
Allowable Building Area: Undefined
Floor Area Ratio: 3.2
Allowable Height: Limit of 57’ Within a Capital View Corridor
Setbacks: 5’3” From the Property Line (No Setback to the North Alley Way)
Total Building Plumbing Fixture Requirements: Water Closets (Men): 8 Water Closets (Women): 8
Lavatories: 12
Water Fountains: 4
Parking Requirements: N/A
Number of Accessible Parking Spaces: 1
Occupancy: A-1,2,3 (Assembly), B (Business), E (Education)
Construction Type: Type 2A
Egress Components: 2 egress cores
List the Specific Codes Referenced: IBC 2018 IFC 2018
A-1 ASSEMBLY includes assembly uses, usually with fixed seating, intended for the production and viewing of the performing arts or motion pictures including but not limited to:
Motion Picture Theaters
Symphony and Concert Halls
Television and radio studios admitting an audience
Theaters
PLUMBING FIXTURES (2018 IBC, SECTION 2902)
FIRE SEPARATION (2018 IBC, TABLE 508.4)
EGRESS (2018 IBC, TABLE 1006.2.1 and 1006.3.3)
1 Exit
Occ.
2 Exits 3 Exits
One exit requirements of 49 max occupant load and 75 ft of travel distance applies only for the first floor above or below grade.
2018 IBC, TABLES 504.3, 504.4, 506.2
Max. # of Floors & Height Restrictions
EGRESS (2018 IBC, TABLE1006.2.1 and 1006.3.3)
AOCCUPANCY TYPE (2018 IBC, SECTION 303)
A-2 ASSEMBLY includes assembly uses intended for food and/or drink
consumption including, but not limited to:
Banquet Halls
Casinos (gaming areas)
Night Clubs
Restaurants, Cafeterias and Similar Dining Facilities (including associated commercial kitchens)
Taverns and Bars
PLUMBING FIXTURES (2018 IBC, SECTION 2902)
One exit requirements of 49 max occupant load and 75 ft of travel distance applies only for the first floor
above or below grade.
FIRE SEPARATION (2018 IBC, TABLE 508.4)
2018 IBC, TABLES 504.3, 504.4, 506.2
Max. # of Floors & Height Restrictions
Type II
EGRESS (2018 IBC, TABLE1006.2.1 and 1006.3.3)
AOCCUPANCY TYPE (2018 IBC, SECTION 303)
A-3 ASSEMBLY includes assembly uses intended for worship, recreation or amusement and other assembly uses not classified elsewhere in Group A including, but not limited to:
Amusement Arcades
Art Galleries
Bowling Alleys
Community Halls
Dance Halls
Exhibition Halls
Greenhouses
Gymnasiums
Lecture Halls
Libraries
Museums
Places of Religious Worship
Pool and Billiard Parlors
PLUMBING FIXTURES (2018 IBC, SECTION 2902)
Occ.
One exit requirements of 49 max occupant load and 75 ft of travel distance applies only for the first floor above or below grade.
FIRE SEPARATION (2018 IBC, TABLE 508.4)
2018 IBC, TABLES 504.3, 504.4, 506.2
Max. # of Floors & Height Restrictions
Type II
BOCCUPANCY TYPE (2018 IBC, SECTION 304)
B BUSINESS includes the use of a building or structure or a portion thereof, for office, professional or service-type
transactions, including the storage of records and accounts, but not limited to:
Civic Administration
Educational Occupancies for students above the 12th Grade
Electronic Data Processing
Food processing establishments and commercial kitchens not associated with restaurants, cafeterias and similar
dining facilities not more than 2,500 square feet (232 m2) in area.
Print Shops
Professional Services
Training and skill development not in a school or academic program
PLUMBING FIXTURES (2018 IBC, SECTION 2902)
for the first
for
SEPARATION (2018 IBC, TABLE 508.4)
2018 IBC, TABLES 504.3, 504.4, 506.2
Max. # of Floors & Height Restrictions
EOCCUPANCY TYPE (2018 IBC, SECTION 305)
E EDUCATION includes the use of a building or structure or a portion thereof, by six or more persons at any one time for educational purposes through the 12th grade.
Located at the intersection of 14th and N Street, the Bennett Martin Public Library is situated in the heart of downtown Lincoln, Nebraska. The site is highly accessible and well-integrated into the city’s pedestrian and transportation network. Multiple sidewalks converge at the site, encouraging foot traffic from all directions. Bike lanes run along the adjacent streets, and the presence of bike racks further promotes cycling as a viable mode of transportation to and from the library.
Both 14th and N Streets are one-way roads, directing vehicular movement efficiently around the site. Street parking along both roads, supplemented by a parking garage directly west of the building and a surface lot located kittycorner to the site, providing ample parking options for visitors. In addition, an ADA-accessible parking stall is located directly in front of the library’s west façade, ensuring inclusivity and ease of access for all patrons.
The library’s downtown location is just one block south of O Street, one of Lincoln’s main commercial and nightlife corridors. This proximity creates a unique opportunity for the library to extend its reach beyond traditional daytime users. Through the development of its +Program—a community-driven music center—the library plans to activate its spaces during evening hours. The aim is to leverage weekend foot traffic from nearby bars, restaurants, and venues by hosting live musical performances, workshops, and other creative programming. These events will not only support local artists and musicians but also attract a wider and more diverse audience, redefining the library as a cultural hub.
Lincoln’s variable climate has also played a key role in shaping the building’s design strategies. Analysis of solar orientation, wind direction, precipitation levels, and seasonal temperatures informed several passive design interventions. The new library incorporates screen systems and large operable openings that respond to the sun’s path and prevailing winds. These architectural features allow the building to harness natural ventilation and daylight while minimizing heat gain and glare. The goal is to create well-lit, comfortable interior spaces that remain cool in summer months without relying heavily on mechanical systems. This sustainable, climate-responsive approach not only enhances user comfort but also aligns with broader environmental goals for energy efficiency and reduced operational costs.
Together, these site-specific strategies position the Bennett Martin Public Library as an inclusive, adaptable, and forward-thinking civic institution at the heart of Lincoln’s evolving urban landscape.
PERFORMING ARTS LOCATIONS
The Bennett Martin Library site is positioned just south of Lincoln’s vibrant O Street corridor, placing it within walking distance of some of the city’s most active bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Nearby attractions like The Bourbon Theatre, Zoo Bar, and numerous local pubs contribute to a lively nighttime atmosphere, drawing a diverse crowd throughout the week. This energetic context contrasts with the library’s traditional role as a quiet community space, offering a unique opportunity to re-imagine its presence in the urban fabric. The immediate surroundings include a mix of surface parking, lowrise commercial buildings, and residential pockets, creating potential for improved pedestrian flow and stronger visual connections. The site’s proximity to O Street nightlife positions it as a cultural threshold—inviting exploration of how a civic institution can engage with Lincoln’s social scene while maintaining its identity as a center for learning, gathering, and growth.
CONTEXTUAL MATERIAL ANALYSIS
South Side - Lincoln Community Foundation (stone, steel)
South Side - Pinnacle Bank (brick, metal, fabric awnings)
North Side - O street, The Bourbon Theater and local bars (brick and stone)
North Side - Sandy’s Bar (brick facade and wood awning)
West Side - Parking Garage (concrete, metal railings, orange accents)
East Side - Townhouse complex (greenery, brick, stucco)
West Side - Brothers Bar and Grill (concrete, stone, fabric awnings)
East Side - YWMCA (red brick, carved stone, overgrown vine wall)
BENNETT MARTIN MATERIAL ANALYSIS
Exterior - Stone facade, concrete perforated screen
1st Floor Stair - Corner stone staircase, patterned carpet, wood and glass railing
2nd Floor Music Library - Carpet, short wooden bookshelves, cinder blocks
Addition - 4-story 1967 addition on Northeast corner, tinted angled windows, glass elevator
When analyzing the materiality of the site’s surrounding context, we recognized that the music venues facing O street were lacking glazing to highlight their performance spaces. Theaters such as the Bourbon and smaller bars like Duff y’s, although known for their live music and entertainment, are not advertising it to the public through visual transparency. Despite the surrounding context of having different programs ranging from entertainment to business, to parking, the majority of their materials consist of concrete and brick.
As for the Bennett-Martin itself, its public facing exterior is made up of concrete panels, single-pane glazing, stone, and a geometric concrete screen. The screen assisted in interior shading, but from the exterior, it appeared dirty and in need of replacing. The Northeast addition on the other hand has warm bricks, reflective windows, and a central outdoor courtyard. While touring the library, we noticed that the interior materials were outdated and inefficient, and the central courtyard was underutilized and brought maintenance difficulties. One element that felt like it had great potential was their corner staircase. Not only does the glass encased corner feature their main circulation stair, but it also creates a bright public facing space that attracts people inside.
The library sits just off O Street, a busy downtown road, and on the corner of two one-way streets. Most of the noise comes from passing cars and the nearby church bells.
While the site is not entirely noisy, it was decided to use double-pane glass for the windows as a way to combat the car noises further outside.
The corner of the building (Southwest corner) is also able to open to allow for the music being played inside of the library to be projected outward into the city, treating the library’s corner as a speaker, or an instrument itself.
HISTORY ANALYSIS
Historic preservation is an important aspect within the Lincoln community. From the downtown Haymarket to the historic UNL campus, the context around the Bennett-Martin site is rich with history and meaning. Not only is it important to preserve these buildings for the mark they have had on the community, but also because of their physical material conditions. Many of the historical buildings in Lincoln are made of brick and stone, are multi-story buildings, and have served an important role in the history of Lincoln.
The Bennett-Martin, although not maintained as well, is one of these buildings and should be treated as such. Analyzing the importance of building preservation culture in the site’s context has helped us conclude that we need to preserve parts of the Bennett-Martin Public Library. As well as creating exterior solutions that will better reflect the library’s dedication to the community, inviting people in to learn and explore.
MASONIC TEMPLE
HAYMARKET
GREEK ROW
SOLAR ANALYSIS
SUMMER SHADING
WINTER SHADING
The existing Bennett-Martin Public Library consists of the original “L” shape building, the 1960s Northeast 4-story addition, and the central courtyard in between the two buildings. Currently, the outdoor courtyard is underutilized and under maintained. Because of the heavy yearly shadows, not many people go into the courtyard to read or relax, instead, it is occupied primarily by birds. Going forward with design, this analysis helped confirm that a central outdoor space or any outdoor space for that matter would not be necessary. Studying the solar effects of the library aerially also gave us a new perspective on how programming locations in the Northeast corner were being affected. The addition facing the alley is programmed for administration offices and their multi-purpose auditorium. These spaces receive little to no sunlight on a regular basis, so we determined that a goal for our addition was to move the office spaces to more enjoyable daylighting areas.
SOLAR DAYLIGHTING ANALYSIS:
With Climate Consultant, the climate and environment data from Lincoln, Nebraska is collected and synthesized into various charts, one of these being a wind wheel. The wind wheel analysis concludes the common directions, speed and temperature that wind flows through the site. The first wheel breaks down the statistics from January to June while the second wheel is July to December. Heavy winds stem from the North and South directions throughout the entire year and average relative humidity and temperature. This will require attention to wind protection and water barriers into a facade. The current Bennett-Martin Library has little to no barrier protections to the outside environment, so this is a design choice that will need to be added to our renovation and addition.
PRECIPITATION ANALYSIS
According to Climate Consultant, the Lincoln metro area receives an average of just under 29 inches of rainfall annually, primarily between April and October. Snowfall averages around 26 inches per year, typically occurring between November and February. These climate conditions influence building design elements, such as the required slopes for roofs and skylights, and necessitate waterproof membranes at ground level to seal components like doors and windows. In addition, this information can help predict peak times where doors and windows may be open for extended periods of time—specifically for the +program musical atrium—and how we can predict what months this large door can and might be open during.
LEGEND:
Amount (inches)
Snowfall
Precipitation
PSYCHROMETRIC CHART ANALYSIS
DESIGN STRATEGIES: January -
5
6
7
8
3
The psychrometric chart illustrates dry and wet bulb temperatures and identifies the zones associated with optimal human comfort. This tool aids in determining the desired interior temperature ranges and helps inform decisions about passive design strategies. It can also influence the selection of façade elements that support maintaining comfortable interior conditions with minimal mechanical intervention.
Comfort Zones: Left: Winter Clothes
The Bennett Martin Public Library currently serves a variety of user groups, including adults who live downtown, students from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and Southeast Community College, and a portion of the unhoused population. These groups rely on the library for different reasons—some for studying and research, others for internet access. The goal of this library adaptive-reuse project is to continue supporting those core user groups while also opening the doors to a broader and more diverse public. By introducing new programs and spaces, the library has the potential to become a cultural hub—bringing together quiet and loud, academic and creative users under one roof in a more inclusive way.
This concept builds on the pre-existing library’s budding music program. Currently, the program includes a small music library with records, cassette tapes, sheet music, and books, plus a compact recording studio, all run by a single staff member. While there are occasional performances, they happen in a secluded space on the library's second floor.
Treating the current music program as a foundation, we aim to expand upon and promote the future of the Bennett Martin Polley Music Program. The design adds spaces that many musicians currently lack access to. New program areas include a full instrument repair shop, an instrument rental space, several practice rooms of varying sizes, a 60-person auditorium, and a southwest-facing atrium made almost entirely of glass that can open for public performances. The idea is to invite the public in, to create visual and audible connections between the street and what’s happening inside.
In addition to these new spaces, existing components like the music library and recording studio are upgraded and moved to be in more visible and accessible locations in the building. These improvements not only make the music program more functional but also make it feel more permanent and integrated within the library’s identity.
Overall, the design supports a wider range of users and re-imagines what a library can be—not just a quiet place for books and studying, but a lively, creative, and inclusive space that reflects the needs and interests of an entire community.
PRIMARY USER GROUPS
ADULTS LIBRARY STAFF
Library Users
22+ Years
Avg. Age
Although downtown Lincoln has a higher percentage of young adults, the library primarily serves an older adult group
Staff + Volunteers
35-55 Years
Avg. Age
Library staff includes librarians, service associates, a support services team, security officers, and more
UNHOUSED
Library Users
14-60 Years
Avg. Age
The unhoused population in Downtown Lincoln use the library to shelter from the elements
SUMMARY:
The downtown Bennett Martin Public Library has a unique user group because of it’s downtown location. Unlike many of the other library branches, the user demographic is primarily adults, and it serves a significant number of unhoused users. It will be important to consider this user group in the design of the new library. Some important considerations are increased security, space to accommodate potential police activity, and accessibility for those with disabilities. This also presents a unique opportunity to add programs to the library that could serve the unhoused population. The library staff are also one of the primary user groups who spend the most time in the space. It will be important to consider the staff needs for additional office space, better workspace conditions, and room for the different book workflows.
1011 NOW: Point-in-Time Count tallies unhoused population in Lincoln
SECONDARY USER GROUPS
YOUTH
Library Users
8-17 Years
Avg. Age
Children and teens visit the library after school, for youth programs and workshops, or with their families
STUDENTS
Library Users
18-21 Years
Avg. Age
Students from nearby colleges like UNL and Southeast Community College may use the library as a study space
VOLUNTEERS
SUMMARY:
% of Lincoln Library Card Holders
Frequency of use
Programs Used:
-Digital/Internet Area
-Youth Collections
-Classrooms
-Multipurpose Spaces
% of Downtown Lincoln Population
Programs Used:
Rooms
10-88 Years
Avg. Age
Many volunteers help run the library and its events, and a large portion are youth ages 10-18
Programs Used: Library Users
% of Library Employees 2023
Frequency of use
Although children and teens make up a sizable percentage of library users across Lincoln, the Bennett Martin library has fewer youth and family users due to the neighborhood demographics and negative associations with the downtown area. The new library design will need to accommodate youth users, but there is a unique opportunity to tailor the programs and services to the adult and population in the area and create opportunities to engage the large college student user group. The Lincoln library system has many volunteers of all ages and with added programs and partnerships additional guests may be visiting, so it is also important to consider how they will interact with the space.
-Classrooms -Workrooms -Staff Offices
-Multipurpose Spaces
Sources:
Statistical Atlas
Lincoln City Libraries Annual Report 2023
Department for Professional Employees Library
Professionals 2024 Fact Sheet
PROGRAM SPACE ANALYSIS
Practice Room
A total of 8 practice rooms will fill the need for small group and large group collaboration. Acoustic panels will line the walls, and each room will have flexible furniture and room for many different instruments.
The current Bennett-Martin Polly Music Library features a small collection of music genre books, a oneroom recording studio, the office of the music library director, and a small storage room for rentable instruments. While speaking with the Polly Music Library Director, he voiced their need for more space to display their books, sheet music, and CD collection as well as more space for learning and practicing music. Because of this feedback, our music specific spaces began to divide into focused zones for learning, practicing and performing.
As for learning, there was an expressed need for multiple practice rooms, able to accommodate individuals and small groups. Because the practice spaces were going to be near the expanded music library, appropriate acoustic paneling was a necessary design choice.
A larger recording studio for practicing is another program added to the music space, which has a recording control room, a separate audio sound booth, and direct access to the music repair shop.
Finally, for performing, the current music space in the Bennett-Martin has occasional live performances which are held in the middle of the library stack area. Because this complicated the separation of loud and quiet library, we incorporated a more private auditorium that prioritizes sound enhancement and a main level performance atrium for when the music wants to be heard throughout the space.
Adjacent to the practice rooms is the recording studio and the sound booth. Large bands and solo artists can record music in the studio, with full access to instruments in the music repair shop.
The more private auditorium prioritizes sound enhancement with angular acoustic panels and an enjoyable music experience for up to 60 people. Stage lighting and flexible seating are present in the auditorium as well as an operable partition to exterior light.
Recording Studio
Auditorium
PROGRAM SPACE ANALYSIS
Book Stacks
High and low book stacks stagger throughout the library with seating integrated between. This allows for more private flexible study spots.
The current Bennett-Martin library collections and stacks are divided by adult, teen, and kids' library areas. Within each area, the collections are subdivided into different genres of books. Currently, their book collections are growing quickly, and they are in need of more stack spaces to grow for the future. We decided that the library stacks not only needed to prioritize maximum space and update book shelving but also integrate individual seating throughout the stacks. The seating helps break up the book stack program and create quieter individually flexible spaces for reading.
When touring the current public library, we learned that their 3D printers and paper printers were located in the staff-only basement, away from public use. To better highlight this important service that the library offers, a designated print shop and media center is designed to improve this program that most people don’t know about.
A final key space that needed to be improved in the library program are the reading rooms. Having a wider variety of furniture for individual or group reading and study spaces was an important element for the library program. Especially having tailored reading rooms for each age specified library collection with a focus on letting in natural light.
Media and Print Space
Adult and Teen library stacks are accompanied by desktop computer spaces. Standard printers as well as 3D printers are also accessible for public use. The media space also serves as a private classroom.
Reading Room
Throughout the Adult, Teen, and Kids library stacks, more private reading rooms offer a variety of different study spaces, including high top desks, couches, and lounge chairs. Natural lighting is frequently present in the reading rooms.
CURRENT AND NEW MUSIC PROGRAM
EXISTING MUSIC PROGRAM SPACES
Total: 1,395 sf
Music Library: 1,233
Recording Booth: 81 sf
+PROGRAM MUSIC SPACES
PROPOSED MUSIC PROGRAM SPACES
Total: 9,559 sf
Music Library: 3,370 sf
Recording Booth: 750 sf
Practice Rooms x6 (Small): 44 sf Each
Practice Rooms x2 (Large) 80 sf Each
Music Repair Shop: 430 sf
Auditorium: 1,684 sf
Performance Atrium: 2,901 sf
PRECEDENTS
Each of these four precedents aided in our process of exploring and iterating materials, form geometries and program organization. For materiality, we knew that the music program spaces needed to feel and perform differently than a library, specifically for acoustical purposes. The warm oak wood materiality and the angled ceiling structure of “The Concert Hall Aarhus” served as a great precedent for a non-stationary furniture auditorium. And because our auditorium would not have enough area to accommodate tiered seating, the concert hall precedent was informative in its interior layout.
As for the exterior, the “William Concert Hall” precedent sparked our interest in making the exterior of our design feel more industrial with steel, while the inside music program transitions to wood. William Concert Hall also had an angled facade separation that led to a detailed glass corner sliding door, which we were experimenting with on a larger scale.
Facade detailing and perforations for daylighting purposes was inspired by the “De Young Museum.” Its material color, wear over time, and the perforation changes assisted in our facade studies, specifically, how small or large perforation holes should be to be effective in a space. As for our feature skylight, its purpose is to join the music and library programs, symbolizing the “crack” of the geode program primer.
The Interpretation Centre of Romanesque precedent served as an example of an effective structural skylight that leads one's view through a space, while having integrated lighting in the interior and projecting a glowing effect from the exterior.
WILLIAM CONCERT HALL Sander Architects
THE CONCERT HALL AARHUS CF Moller
DE YOUNG MUSEUM Herzog & de Meuron
INTERPRETATION CENTRE OF ROMANESQUE Spaceworkers
ACOUSTIC GEOMETRY ANALYSIS
FLUTTER ECHOVISUAL ACOUSTICS
An important side effect to consider in music practice and performance spaces is the flutter echo effect. If a room has untreated parallel surfaces such as walls, floors or ceilings, then sound reverberation can cause flutter echoes and standing waves. Flutter typically sounds like a prolonged buzzing from overemphasized frequencies that can become distracting for musicians and audiences. A few ways to decrease flutter are by making non-parallel or splayed walls, adding acoustic treatments to parallel walls, or making a rectangular room by varying one dimension 30% or more.
Visual acoustics is when a design looks great to the eye but is actually counterproductive to the sound quality of music. Concaves and domes are a representation of visual acoustics. Because sound is reflected by concave planes and domes, this creates hot spots of concentrated sound, making the sound quality of the music decrease. This geometry should not be present on walls or ceilings in spaces where music performance for larger groups of people is a priority. To avoid designing with visual acoustics, a non-parallel wall geometry or acoustic treatments is a solution, as well as adding more cubic volume to a space.
ACOUSTIC MATERIAL ANALYSIS
CARPET ACOUSTICAL PROPERTIES
ACOUSTICAL WALL PANELS
Carpet is an effective sound-absorbing material commonly used in libraries to create quiet, comfortable environments. It works by dampening impact noise—such as footsteps or dropped objects—and by absorbing airborne sound, reducing echoes and overall noise levels. In spaces like book stacks and reading rooms, this acoustic control is especially important. The soft surface of the carpet, along with its padding underneath, helps minimize sound transmission between floors and adjacent areas. This contributes to a more focused atmosphere, where visitors can read, study, or browse without disruptive background noise. By controlling sound at the floor level, carpet plays a critical role in maintaining the peaceful, contemplative environment essential to a library’s function.
Oak wood panels are used throughout acoustic spaces such as practice rooms, the auditorium, and the performance atrium. Oak is chosen not only for its durability and warmth but also for its well-known sound-absorbing properties. It absorbs roughly 50% to 65% of sound waves, significantly reducing harsh echoes compared to softer woods that tend to reflect more sound.
The panels are installed with an air gap between the wood and the solid wall behind them. This setup allows for a balanced distribution of sound: about one-third is absorbed by the oak, another third passes through and dissipates in the air cavity, and the remaining third is reflected back into the space for sound clarity and atmospheric vibrations. This combination enhances acoustic quality by reducing muddiness while maintaining liveliness in the room.
This material strategy supports the library’s performance spaces by creating a sound environment that is clear, rich, and comfortable for both performers and audiences, reinforcing the building’s acoustical goals.
CITY OF LINCOLN MUSIC ADJACENCIES
INSTRUMENT SALE AND REPAIR SHOP
PERFORMING ARTS STUDIOS AND BUSINESS
PERFORMANCE VENUE (LARGER)
RECORDING STUDIO
BENETT MARTIN SITE
MUSIC SHOPS AND INSTRUMENT REPAIR
Unlimited Singing Bowls
Roots Music Shop
Backtrap Records LLP
Music Go Round Lincoln
Dietze Music Gateway
Palmer's Music
Zager Guitar
Guitar Center
Dietze Music Briahurst
PERFORMING ARTS CENTERS
The Pure Movement Dance Initiative
BEleve Dodd’s School of Dance
Jessica Dodd’s School of Dance
Starstruck Dance Academy
Greater Impact Dance
Inspire Dance Complex LLC
Chase the Spirit of Dance
Motions Dance Academy
Pas de Deux, School of Dance
True Dance Academy
PERFORMANCE VENUES
Joyo Theater
Nebraska Wesleyan University Auditorium
The Mary Riepma Ross
The Rococo Theater
Pinewood Bowl Theater
Lincoln Community Playhouse
RECORDING STUDIOS
Compass Recordings
Sadson Music Group
The Fields Recording Studio
Lost Gravity Studios
Fuse Recording
The Grid Studio
Startracker Recording Studio
Dylan Parker Productions
1) LIBRARY
Goal: To cultivate a creative, open environment that promotes learning and community engagement.
This proposal re-imagines the Bennett Martin Library as a vibrant cultural hub—one that celebrates music, sound, and community engagement alongside traditional library functions. Rather than enforcing silence, the design embraces-controlled loudness, using architectural strategies to manage acoustics and spatial separation while creating zones for performance, collaboration, and quiet study. Music is not treated as background, but as an active programmatic element that invites public interaction through rehearsal spaces, listening rooms, and live events. The library becomes a place of energy and exchange—where creativity, learning, and fun coexist. By blurring the boundary between civic institutions and social venues, the design draws in a wider audience and repositions the library as a living part of the city’s cultural rhythm.
2) MUSIC
Goal: To expand upon the existing music program and become a speaker for the city of Lincoln.
3) ADMIN
Goal: To create spaces to better enhance the work environment for the back of house staff.
Re-use Building Elements
Elevator Shaft
Restroom Core
Egress Stairs
Removed Building Elements
FOAM MASSING AND PROGRAM STUDIES
The initial program and massing studies began with the decision of what to keep of the existing building. The structural grid of the main “L” shape provided a decent base for structural and facade continuity from old to new. We iterated our three programs of library, administration and music to link together, similar to a puzzle piece. When overlayed on top of each other, the large music program created a crevasse between the library and admin spaces.
As for the main corner of the building, we were interested in making the music space a more central program than the library. Because we were also interested in the corner being openly transparent, we began to look at the corner as a void, that once removed, informed the shape of the programs touching its interior.
PROGRAM PRIMERS
QUIET CONTROLLED MUSIC
LIBRARY STACKSPERFORMANCE SPACESREADING AREAS PERFORM
LOUD, DISPURSED MUSIC
THE MERMAID
The “mermaid” serves as a program primer, describing the unexpected condition of one program within or interacting with an entirely different program. The re-imagined Bennett Martin Library takes shape as a music center and performance spaces embedded within a traditionally quiet library environment. Instead of isolating either environment, the design intentionally allows sound to flow through the building, shifting the library’s role from controlling noise to curating it, and controlling the quiet spaces.
This layered program creates a dialogue between quiet and sound. Music becomes part of the library’s identity—inviting energy, gathering, and expression—while quiet spaces are defined as more intimate and isolated rooms. Rather than separating silence from sound, the architecture encourages the interaction of both programs in hopes of furthering the library experience and promoting different user groups to experience this hybrid model of a building.
DISTRIBUTE THE WEALTH
A program under the “distribute the wealth” organization is strategically scattered across a building, interacting adjacent to its counter program. This program primer takes our new music performance and education spaces and places them on every floor, which continues “the mermaid’s” goal of fluctuating a quiet and loud library.
This program primer not only ties the programs together through sound, but also through visual lightness and materiality. Because our music performance and education spaces are placed on opposite ends of the Bennett-Martin plan, a bridge of light can be made between the two. That way, when visitors travel from library to music spaces, they are guided by natural daylighting and material changes.
AUDITORIUM
MUSIC LIBRARY
MUSIC PRACTICE ROOMS
RECORDING STUDIO
The Geode
The Geode is a conceptual framework for a building that integrates two distinct programs: a pre-existing primary function, the library (the “rock”), and an added secondary function, the music program (the “crystal”).
Inspired by the natural structure of a geode, this approach inserts vibrant, expressive elements within a more concealing exterior condition.
The music program is not confined to a single area but is instead strategically and sporadically placed throughout the library. These insertions are physically, visually, and sometimes audibly accessible from most main library spaces, allowing users to engage with both programs simultaneously or separately. The result is a layered environment where two distinct user groups — readers and musicians — coexist and mutually enhance each other's experiences.
By blending quiet spaces for study with dynamic environments for performmance and practice, the building encourages creativity, learning, and community engagement. This fusion not only supports a broader range of activities but also treats the library as a cultural hub. Like the structure of a geode, the project’s strength lies in the contrast between its solid, established core and the luminous, possibly unexpected, beauty found inside.
STAFF OFFICES
STORAGE ROOM
STAFF BREAK ROOM
PRAC TICE ROOMS
ADULT LIBRARY BOOK STACKS
ADULT LIBRARY READING ROOM
STAFF OFFICES
ADULT LIBRARY READING ROOM IT OFFICES
SERVERS AND TECHNOLOGICAL EQUIPMENT
MUSIC SPECIFIC SPACES
CIRCULATION SPACES
ADDED BUILDING- LIBRARY
EXISTING BUILDING- LIBRARY
RECORDING STUDIO INSTRUMENT REPAIR SHOP
NEBRASKA
AUTHORS ARCHIVE
PERFORMANCE ATRIUM AUDITORIUM
BOOK COLLECTIONS AND SORTING
ADULT LIBRARY BOOK STACKS
LIBRARY PRINT SHOP MECHANICAL ROOM
ADULT LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER CLASSROOM
MAIN LIBRARY STORAGE
BUILDING LAYOUT
The design brings together the existing library and the new music center by mixing their programs throughout the building, rather than keeping them separate. Instead of having one half as “library” and the other as “music,” the two are woven together, so people from both areas naturally cross paths and share spaces. This creates more opportunities for collaboration and casual interaction, whether it’s a student studying near a practice room or someone pausing in a common area to listen to a performance.
At the heart of the building is a central performance atrium that connects everything vertically. Each floor has a clear visual link to this space, so no matter where you are, you can see into the atrium and feel connected to the activity happening there. On the second and third floors, you also get views up to a large skylight and across to the music practice rooms, which adds another layer of visual connection. The goal is to make the building feel alive and open—a place where different disciplines don’t just coexist, but actually interact in meaningful ways.
PROGRAM PARTI
STAFF OFFICES
STORAGE ROOM
STAFF BREAK ROOM
ADULT LIBRARY BOOK STACKS
ADULT LIBRARY READING ROOM
STAFF OFFICES
BOOK COLLECTIONS AND SORTING
NEBRASKA AUTHORS ARCHIVE
PERFORM MUSIC PERFORM MUSIC
ADULT LIBRARY READING ROOM IT OFFICES
SERVERS AND TECHNOLOGICAL EQUIPMENT
MUSIC SPECIFIC SPACES
CIRCULATION SPACES
ADDED BUILDING- LIBRARY
EXISTING BUILDING- LIBRARY
ADULT LIBRARY BOOK STACKS LIBRARY PRINT SHOP MECHANICAL ROOM
ADULT LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER CLASSROOM
MAIN LIBRARY STORAGE
MOVEMENT OF MUSIC SPACES
The music program in the building is intentionally diverse, including a mix of performance spaces—like the auditorium and the central performance atrium—as well as practice rooms, a music library, a recording studio, and even an instrument repair and rental shop. This variety of spaces was a key factor in how the program was distributed across the building’s three floors.
The second floor became the core of music education within the building. It serves as a centralized zone for both learning and practicing, with classrooms, studios, and rehearsal spaces coming together to create what we’ve come to think of as the "heart" of the music program. From this educational core, the performance spaces begin to branch out—located on both the third and main levels—creating a kind of dispersing effect. It’s almost like a transition from the internal, process-driven work of learning music to the more public, expressive nature of performance. This spatial flow supports the natural progression of a musician’s journey, from quiet practice to shared performance.
BUILDING MASSING AND FORM
1.EXISTING2.
KEEPING
3. ADDING
4. PROGRAMMING5. PUSHING
6. DEFINING
AXONOMETRIC CIRCULATION
Level 3
EGRESS CORES
Level 2
MAIN CIRCULATION STAIR
MUSIC+ PROGRAMS
Level 1
Lower Level
LOWER LEVEL LIFE SAFETY PLAN
Lower Level Occupancy: 191 (1004.5)
Egress Door Capacity: 32 Inch Min (Section 1005.3.1)
Egress Corridor Sizing: 44 Inch Min (Table 1020.2)
Exits Required: 2 (Section 1006.2.2)
Sprinkled: Yes, Automatic Exit Travel Distance: 250 Foot Min (Table 1017.2) Dead End Corridor: 50 Food Max (Section 1020.4)
MAIN LEVEL LIFE SAFETY PLAN
Occupancy Load:
Librarian Offices and Volunteer
Check-In (926 sf) - A3
Factor: 150
Occupancy: 6
Main Lobby (1,193 sf) - B Factor: 50
Occupancy: 24
Book Sorting Room (2,564 sf) - A3 Factor: 150
Occupancy: 17
Large Office (237 sf) - B Factor: 50
Occupancy: 4
Small Office x2 (118 sf) - B Factor: 50
Occupancy: 2
NE Authors Archive (1,484 sf) - A3 Factor: 100
Occupancy: 14
Cafe (2,468 sf) - M Factor: 60
Occupancy: 41
Adult Library Stacks (4,626 sf) - A3 Factor: 100
Occupancy: 46
Performance Atrium (2,901 sf) - A1 Factor: 15
Occupancy: 194
Code Requirements: IBC 2018
Occupancy: 348 (Table 1004.5)
Egress Door Capacity: 32” Min (Section 1005.3.1)
Egress Corridor Sizing: 44” Min (Table 1020.2)
Exits Required: 2 Min (Section 1006.3.3)
Sprinkled: Yes, automatic
Exit Access Travel Distance: 75’ (Table 1006.3.4)
Dead End Corridor: 50’ Max (Section 1020.4)
*There are no dead end corridors on this floor
Fire Separation: A1&A3 -> B,M = 1 HR (Table 508.4)
Egress Door Capacity: 32 Inch Min (Section 1005.3.1)
Egress Corridor Sizing: 44 Inch Min (Table 1020.2)
Exits Required: 2 (Section 1006.2.2)
Sprinkled: Yes, Automatic
Exit Travel Distance: 250 Foot Min (Table 1017.2)
Dead End Corridor: 50 Food Max (Section 1020.4)
Key:
2-Hr
1-Hr Fire & Smoke Barrier
Egress Dimensions
Common Path of Travel
Max Travel Distance
EXISTING FIRE STAIR
EXISTING FIRE STAIR
EXISTING ELEVATOR
EGRESS STAIR SECTION 1/8”=1’
EGRESS STAIR PLAN 1/4”=1’
DNUP
SOUTH ELEVATION
Scale: 1/16” = 1’-0”
WEST ELEVATION
Scale: 1/16” = 1’-0”
NORTH ELEVATION
Scale: 1/16” = 1’-0”
Scale: 1/16” = 1’-0”
The structural re-design for the Bennett Martin Library adaptive reuse project aims to keep most within the current structure of the building, keeping the existing column grid along with half the existing structure, while also providing the library with longer span structures on the third level to create more open spaces free of columns. The original structure is composed of a steel frame with a consistent 22.5x22.5-foot column grid and concrete slab sub-floors (4 inches). The current grid layout is kept on the lower level and the first two floors to keep the new addition integrated within the existing building.
To expand the library’s capacity and expand the current programs, a new third level is introduced as a lightweight steel addition. This level breaks from the existing column grid and incorporates long-span steel beams to allow for more open spaces that respond to current and future programmatic needs.
Expansion joints are used in the concrete slabs, allowing both systems to move independently and maintaining consistent floor levels across all areas.
STRUCTURAL CHUNK ISOMETRIC
BUILDING COLUMNS
BUILDING FOOTERSBAR JOISTS BUILDING BEAMS
EXISTING BUILDING FOOTERS
The current Bennett Martin Public Library is supported by large concrete bell footings. These structural elements help stabilize the building by distributing its load and anchoring it securely into the ground. They are especially important in preventing movement caused by the freeze-thaw cycle of the soil, which can otherwise lead to shifting or settling over time.
NEW ADDITION FOOTERS
The proposed building addition will utilize more typical square column footings to anchor the structure into the ground. In addition to these footings, piles will be incorporated to further stabilize the foundation, ensuring the building remains secure and resistant to ground movement over time.
COLUMN GRID
The existing building is organized around a column grid measuring 22’-6” by 22’-6”. This regular spacing provides a clear and efficient structural framework that supports key building components such as beams, bar joists, and floor plates. The consistent grid not only aids in load distribution but also simplifies construction coordination and planning. It creates a modular rhythm throughout the building, influencing both structural and spatial organization. In the proposed addition, this grid is extended and mirrored to maintain visual and structural continuity, allowing for seamless integration between the old and new sections of the library. This approach ensures alignment of structural elements like columns and beams, while also preserving the architectural logic of the original design.
BEAMS
The existing building utilizes steel I-beams with an 18” depth, which are bolted directly into the columns. These beams support the bar joists and floor systems, forming the backbone of the structural framework. In the proposed addition, this beam system is continued across the lower three levels to maintain consistency in both structural logic and construction methods.
However, the newly added third floor introduces longer and deeper steel beams to accommodate increased span lengths. This design shift allows for a more open floor plan with fewer columns, creating flexible, unobstructed interior spaces that better support the building’s evolving programmatic needs. By integrating these larger beams, the structure balances architectural openness with structural integrity.
BAR JOISTS
The current library utilizes steel bar joists to span the 22’-6” distance between columns and beams. These joists provide efficient and lightweight support for the floor systems and are a key component of the building’s structural strategy. This approach was replicated in the new addition to maintain structural consistency and simplify construction. On the third level, however, the bar joists transition in function—they support a steel decking system that forms the building’s roof. This steel deck not only provides structural support but also acts as a base for insulation and roofing materials, completing the envelope of the uppermost level..
CEILING STRUCTURE: LOWER LEVEL PLAN
EXISTING STEEL REINFORCED CONCRETE COLUMNS
EXISTING CONCRETE ELEVATOR CORE EXISTING CONCRETE EGRESS STAIR CORE
CEILING STRUCTURE: MAIN LEVEL PLAN
SECONDARY GLASS BLOCK STRUCTURE
W12 X 27 STEEL I BEAMS
W27 X 178 STEEL BEAM
SHEAR WALL
CEILING STRUCTURE: SECOND LEVEL PLAN
EXTERIOR COLUMNS (1’-4” X 1’-3.5”)
COLUMNS
INTERIOR
(10.5” X 10.5”)
SECONDARY GLASS BLOCK STRUCTURE
W24 X 55 STEEL BEAM
W24 X 117 STEEL BEAM
CEILING STRUCTURE: THIRD LEVEL PLAN
W27 X 178 LONG SPAN STEEL BEAM
STEEL BAR JOISTS (18S8 SPACED 2’-0” OC)
NARRATIVES
MATERIAL
The adaptive reuse of the Bennett Martin Public Library re-imagines its existing mid-century look by critically looking at three current buildings' materiality and expanding upon them in a respectful and contemporary way. The original building, composed of a steel structural frame, concrete floors, single-pane windows, and linoleum flooring, reflects the pragmatic design of its time but no longer meets current standards for comfort, energy efficiency, or public engagement.
This transformation introduces an updated palette of materials aimed at enhancing spatial quality and environmental performance. Internally, oak flooring is used as a way to highlight the music program spaces, differentiating them from the carpeted library. In addition, oak tends to have better acoustical properties. All existing windows are replaced with high-performance double-glazed glazing, greatly improving thermal conditions and daylight control.
On the exterior, a new perforated copper screen is applied as both a performative and expressive element. Functionally, the screen provides solar shading, reducing heat gain and glare, while visually, it offers a dynamic, textural identity that evolves as the copper weathers.
Overall, through material choices, the library was given a more contemporary feel and look while also being enhanced with its performative measures within the environmental systems through the chosen materials.
NARRATIVES
INTEGRATION
The organizing principle of the Bennett Martin Library is the coexistence of sound and silence—creating a space that supports dynamic public engagement through music while preserving the contemplative functions of a library. This duality directly informs the design of the featured wall section, which acts as both an acoustic barrier and a visual connector. The copper facade provides solar protection, while interior layers of acoustic insulation isolate sound transmission between active and quiet zones.
Material selections support both performance and identity. Warm wood finishes and geometric acoustic panels on the interior soften reverb and visually express the library’s musical character. Highperformance glazing at strategic locations offers daylighting without compromising acoustic control, reducing glare and enhancing user comfort. The wall integrates structural steel framing that allows for open interior volumes, supporting flexibility for both performance and study spaces.
HVAC systems are discreetly integrated into ceiling assemblies using zoned controls to meet varied acoustic and thermal needs. Life safety elements—such as fire-rated assemblies and integrated egress lighting maintain safety without visual disruption. This holis tic approach ensures that the wall does more than divide space—it actively enables the project’s goal of a “loud library” that balances energy, control, and community.
DETAIL 1: PARAPET
DETAIL 2: GLASS BLOCKS
SCALE: 3/8” = 1’-0”
SCALE: 3/8” = 1’-0”
1. EPDM Roof
2. Concrete Slab
3. Insulation
4. Steel Decking
5. Steel Joists
6. Drop Ceiling Tiles
1. Concrete Floor Slab 2. Drywall 3. Steel Posts
Batt Insulation 5. Water Vapor and Wind Barrier 6. Steel Joists 7. Steel I Beam
8. Perimeter Member
9. Spacer Member
10. Aluminum Spanning Members
11. Glass Blocks
12. Concrete Panel
13. Window Mullion
14. Double Pane Glass
7. Steel Posts
8. Air Gap
9. Steel I Beam
10. Water Vapor and Wind Barrier
11. Concrete Panel
12. Metal Roof Flashing
1.Copper Panel
2.Steel Exterior Roofing
3.Concrete Panel
4.Screen Structure: Tension Bar
5.Water Vapor Barrier
6.Wind Barrier
7.Steel Posts
8.Batt Insulation
9.Air Supply System
10.Dropped Ceiling Structure
11.Gypsum Ceiling Tile
12.Bar Joists
13.4” Concrete Slab
14.Steel Decking
15.Steel I Beam
16.Screen Structure: Compression Bar
17.Steel Joint Pane
18.Bolt
DETAIL 1: COPPER SCREEN
WALL CHUNK DETAILS
4.Window
6.Steel
7.Steel
Scale: 1/4” = 1’-0”
DETAIL
1.Concrete
2.Double Glazed Glass Panel
3.Lightweight Aluminum Mullion
Sealant (Insulating)
5.Weatherproofing Rubber Strip
Door Track
Door Pin
SEASONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS
SUMMER
Control Solar Heat Gain - added perforated panels
When considering our building's HVAC system, we prioritized a system that would minimize visual obtrusiveness, maximize space flexibility, and maximize control over air quality. We decided to choose the FanPowered VAV (Variable Air Volume) system. Categorized as a central all-air system, VAV air is mixed with a percentage of outdoor, filtered, heated or cooled, and humidified or dehumidified air.
Each zone has a thermostat connected to the VAV terminal’s controls, allowing individual comfort control. Against the existing structural bearing wall, we implemented a vertical shaft that would centralize then disperse the ducts of air into each zone. Because office spaces and music performance spaces need more individual comfort control, separate AHU (air handling units) were added to the roof, directly serving the third-floor offices and auditorium.
SPRING & FALL
Ease of Maintenance - protected rooftop AHU
WINTER
Maximize Daylighting - added skylight
HVAC DIAGRAM
ROOF MECHANICAL UNITS
SUPPLY AIR DUCTS
AIR HANDLING UNIT (AHU)
EXHAUST DUCTWORK AND FANS
RETURN AIR DUCTS
MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT
ZONE 13 Lobby
ZONE 12
TEMPERATURE ZONE
ZONE 14
ZONE 15
14
DAYLIGHTING
SUMMER SHADING
WINTER SHADING
SOLAR DAYLIGHTING ANALYSIS:
During both the summer and the winter months, the South and West faces of the Bennett-Martin experience immense amounts of natural light. Currently, the existing glazing of the library is singlepane glass with interior blinds, making reading areas and in-between book stacks uncomfortably warm throughout the year. In contrast, the North side is constantly shaded by the adjacent buildings and doesn’t have an opportunity for views because of the joined alleyway. Studying the solar effects of the library aerially gave us a new perspective on how to approach our addition. Specifically, with a focus not only on exterior shading devices for the South and West faces, but also creating the roof to stand out and relay the conceptual goals of the addition.
DAYLIGHTING: INITIAL ANALYSIS
sDA [Spatial Daylighting Autonomy] ASE [Annual Solar Exposure]
With our decision to keep the Bennett-Martin Structural Grid and the Egress cores, we had no obligation to keep the existing concrete facade. The nonstructural geometric concrete facade hung in front of the library’s windows, which acted as a solar barrier on the south and west faces. Although the outdated and poorly maintained screen was being removed, daylighting studies revealed that our new facade design needed to prioritize controlling natural light.
Without a screen to protect the south and west faces, the average illuminance was uncomfortably high in the areas closest to the windows. For our program, these spaces would be for flexible reading rooms and offices which needed to reach optimal comfort for users.
DAYLIGHTING: REVISED ANALYSIS
[Spatial Daylighting Autonomy]
[Annual Solar Exposure]
Copper PanelsPerforated Copper Panels
Geometric
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS NARRATIVE
By preserving portions of the original Bennett Martin building, we can significantly reduce the carbon footprint that would result from constructing an entirely new structure. This approach offers both ecological and likely financial benefits. Furthermore, by renovating and upgrading the retained parts—such as replacing single-pane windows with double-pane alternatives—we improve insulation and reduce the building’s energy consumption. Constructing a thoughtful addition not only conserves materials and minimizes environmental impact, but also lowers the building’s long-term carbon footprint.