West Memphis Public Library and Innovation Center

500 E. Broadway Blvd. , West Memphis, AR 72301 United States

Building Area (sf): 14,400

Completion: January 2021

Architect of Record:

Allen and Hoshall

• Owner/Client:
• General Contractor: Barnes and Brower
• Electrical:
• Engineering:
  Allen and Hoshall
• Other:
  Kersey/Wike Associates - Landscaping
• Photography:
  CLR Photography
  

The new West Memphis Public Library serves as a hub of community gathering, an academic resource, and a touchstone of community pride for the city.

As the first civic building constructed in West Memphis in 30 years, the West Memphis Public Library serves as a meeting place and educational institution for the city. The new state-of-the-art library features a large multipurpose common room, an 18-person conference room, meeting and study spaces, a children’s area with group reading spaces and a play area, a teen gaming and lounge area, a café, administration offices, and an outdoor event space. Replacing the existing 7,500-square-foot library, the West Memphis Public Library serves as a catalyst to the city’s resurgence to upgrade its public facilities.

A blighted, centralized site on the city’s main roadway was chosen in an effort to boost development and revitalize business in the downtown district. Working toward the city’s goal to activate the main road through West Memphis, the new library is oriented longitudinally on the site as to be inviting to the public with a new and relevant façade, mimicking the bold presence of a typical urban streetscape. The southeast corner of the building features floor-to-ceiling glass as a way to promote the culture of the library to the local neighborhood and passing traffic. To better serve the community, the design includes an extended plaza at the southwest corner of the site, perfect for outdoor events. Adult, Teen, and Children’s areas feature double-height space and are differentiated by unique accent colors. To accommodate the schedules of local organizations, pocket doors in the main circulation corridor allow access to public meeting spaces for after-hours events.