Embracing the historical roots entrenched in the port city of Bladensburg, Md., for the expanded Bladensburg Library, Gant Brunnett Architects selected metal to sculpt a striking façade design resembling the form of traditional sailing ships.
Custom-fabricated zinc flatlock panels in diamond shapes, standing-seam zinc panels and a metal composite material rainscreen system harmoniously blend with the building’s curtainwall and masonry to beacon visitors to the newly expanded library.
Located just outside of Washington, D.C., the facility has essentially tripled in size, from 7,300 square feet to 22,834 square feet, rebuilding the original century-old 1925 structure and becoming the first building in Prince George’s County to achieve LEED Silver certification. The original building formerly served
East Coast Metal Systems fabricated 5,108 zinc diamond panels, totaling 6,400 square feet, and 640 standing-seam panels totaling 6,700 square feet. The soft zinc material was easier to work with in forming the different shapes.
The rainscreen is an EC-200 Dry-Joint Rainscreen system made from Reynobond 4mm MCM panels in an Anodic Clear finish with a fire-resistant core. A total of 56 formed panels are mounted with aluminum extrusions and features “floating” accent strips creating a reveal.
The maritime metal theme beautifully compliments the two-story curtainwall in the shape of a ship’s hull by the entryway. The combination of metal panels and masonry appears in various shapes and sizes throughout the facade, creating an aesthetic blend of dark and light grey.
The Children’s Collection’s reading and play areas features the prow of the USS Prince George–a World War II U.S. Navy ship–the original ship’s wheel, reading niches in the shape of dinghies and a wooden dock. The carefully curated interiors create an engaging and immersive experience. Art installations include a glass mosaic and a figurehead for the children’s story time ship.
Gant Brunnett, recently acquired by RRMM Architects, designed a two-story maker space, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, computers available to the public, meeting and activity spaces.
Sustainable design features include a rooftop solar array, electric vehicle charging stations, energy-efficient HVAC and lighting systems, low flow plumbing fixtures and permeable pavers.
The expansive hull-shaped glazing promotes daylighting and visibility into and out of the library. The library is part of a larger redevelopment initiative to reinvigorate the streetscape and larger Bladensburg community.
