North Dearborn Branch Library
Client: Lawrenceburg Public Library
Location: West Harrison, Indiana
- 17,400sf complete interior renovation.
- A new children’s area boasts a “Pathway to your future” theme shown through a series of age-specific murals.
- A fabricator was commissioned to design a rocket ship sculpture that doubles as a reading nook.
- Flexible, mobile furniture is located throughout and can easily be moved to accommodate community events.
INTERESTING FACT: Originally, the “children’s area” was, in essence, an adult area shrunk down to child-sized scale. After realizing this didn’t properly engage children in the community, the “Pathway to the Future" theme was created. Now, kids enjoy the true children's area that features age-specific murals and a rocket ship that doubles as a reading nook. There are even games and interactive stations to help make learning—and libraries—fun.
Architecture|Interior Design
Working with this library’s community, SHP designed a complete interior renovation of the children and teen areas of the North Dearborn Public Library. Extensive stakeholder engagement included focus groups and design team meetings with staff and community members. Spaces that previously lacked personality and were essentially adult spaces scaled to a child’s size were reinvented to better serve the community’s younger readers.