Schertz Public Library
City of Schertz

The new, 30,000 SF municipal library is located on the “Main Street” of the youngest and fastest growing suburban city in the San Antonio Metropolitan area. As a result, City of Schertz desired an architecture that would anchor the street and create a cultural identity for future civic buildings.

A highly interactive process of community engagement was implemented through a series of open conversations with citizens under the theme “everyone is a designer.” The intimate residential scale of the community, the history of aviation in the region, the idea of an open, flexible library as a community center, the accessibility of programs for families and the importance of the South Texas sky and quality of light, were identified as guiding principles of design through these conversations.

The volume of the space is open and flexible, efficient in its organization for library services, but accommodating to a variety of community and family functions. The entry is focused on a traditional South Texas plaza rendered in an ellipse and anchored by a young oak tree, the gift of a broad-based group of citizen/donors.

The silhouette and materials (wood siding, limestone, and galvanized metal) are traditional and residential at the street facade, giving way to a more dynamic and sculptural sense as you enter the space. The roofline of the building underscores the progressive, aspirational values of Schertz. A monumental glass wall on the building’s northern elevation imbues the entire space with a beautiful quality of light at all times during the library’s operations.

The Muñoz & Company team provided programming space, planning, architectural design and all related engineering services for the project. Spaces provided include adult and children’s library areas, public meeting space and a small bookstore.

LOCATION:
Schertz, Texas

PROJECT OWNER:
City of Schertz

CONSTRUCTION COST:
$6.5 Million

SIZE: 30,600 SF.

SCOPE:
New Construction

COMPLETION DATE:
June 1, 2009

FIRM’S RESPONSIBILITY:
Prime Professional

PROJECT ARCHITECT/DESIGNER:
Geof Edwards, AIA, LEED AP

PROJECT MANAGER:
Victor Carrillo

CONSULTANTS:
MEP:
DBR Engineering Consultants
Structural: Datum Engineers
Civil: Briones Consulting & Engineering
Landscape: Laffoon Association

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