CREJ

June 2020 \ BUILDING DIALOGUE \ 67 I n 1955, 17 visionary women from the Sun Valley, Ida- ho, area founded The Community Library as a privately funded, privately governed, nonprofit library. By the in- tention of the founders, the library receives no tax fund- ing, which makes it unique in the field of public libraries. Over the past 40 years, the 27,000-square-foot mountain-lodge- like structure originally constructed in 1976 had become swol- len with a collection of nearly 160,000 items, reinforcing the com- munity’s belief that people who touch books are in a dialogue with them. The library’s transformation commenced in 2015 directed by a team from RATIO. It was spurred first by an eroding infrastruc- ture, and then by the need to reconstruct the library in the context of new as- sets, expanding programs and resources, and an invigorated focus on the need for a dynamic educational and cultural campus in central Idaho, 150 miles from the nearest university. A primary challenge of the project was to bring coherence to a structure that had been expanded like patchwork, resulting in disjointed, inefficient systems, jumbled wayfinding, and an anachronistic invisibility in Ketchum’s downtown core. The challenge of balancing history and innovation, honoring the library’s her- itage and local history while also encouraging new ways of learning and civic engagement, and incorporating new technologies and spaces that span physical and virtual experiences, were critical to advancing the renovation process. In ad- dition, addressing the challenge of creating greater flexibility with a commitment to accessibility, diversity and inclusion, and in anticipation of future collection and programming needs across multiple media formats, without erasing the es- sence of the building’s original architecture were critical design considerations. According to Executive Director Jenny Emery-Davidson, “The transformed li- brary asserts both roots and reach: The design conveys a strong sense of place in central Idaho and a spirit of innovation.” Historic elements that defined the li- brary to the community for years were once again celebrated: the stone fireplace, the massive glulam timbers and rich wood finishes, and the vast collection. “The renewed design elements convey a dynamic energy for the future,” Emery-David- son added. To create coherence, walls were selectively removed, improving navigation and leveraging spaciousness as a unifying force. A new central spine generated a “main street of knowledge.” Color and furniture palettes were selected to foster intuitive wayfinding and unify the building while allowing each space to reflect Building a Mountain of Books in Sun Valley Dennis R. Humphries, AIA Principal/ Partner RATIO