Snøhetta and Clark Nexsen reveal design for Charlotte’s new Main Library

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s new Main Library expansively re-imagines the vital role of the library in the daily life of the community. In the heart of Uptown Charlotte, a new Library is taking shape.

Helming a public library system comprised of 20 branch libraries that welcomes 3.4 million visitors each year, the 115,000 square-foot new Library will allow Charlotte Mecklenburg Library to embrace its mission to become more than just a Library, but also serve as a public commons.

Supported by funding from Mecklenburg County and a major grant by the Knight Foundation, and as the centerpiece of an existing cultural district and burgeoning development in Charlotte’s Uptown, the new, technologically-advanced library is a signal investment in a culture of making, thinking, and doing that is deeply tied to its people and its place.

As Charlotte’s new public commons and knowledge center, the revitalized Main Library creates a bridge between the past, present, and rapidly evolving future of Charlotte, reconceiving how the Library connects to people and everyday life. The flexibility and diversity of the spaces and activities offered within will ensure that the building will meet the dynamically changing needs of contemporary Charlotte-Mecklenburg. Source by Snøhetta.

  • Location: Charlotte Mecklenburg, USA
  • Architect: Snøhetta
  • Architect-of-Record: Clark Nexsen
  • Structural Engineer, Sustainability: Thornton Tomasetti
  • MEP Engineering: McCracken & Lopez
  • Civil Engineer, Landscape Architect of Record: LandDesign
  • Construction Management Team: Rodgers Leeper
  • Project Manager: Mecklenburg County Asset and Facility Management
  • Owner: Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County
  • Area: 115,000 square-foot
  • Year: 2019
  • Images: Courtesy of Snøhetta

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *