projects > public > junee library
The Junee Library is located in an 1890’s brick building in Junee Town Centre. The adaptation and reuse of this building and the implementation of a passive environmental control system make this a flagship green building for Junee. A night sky cooling environmental control system will be implemented. The Library will play a vital role in demonstrating how green technologies can be implemented into our everyday existence and the positive impact that they will have on the users and their environment.
The existing building chosen to house the new library has been converted many times since construction in 1890. They form the start of the high street strip of shops that run up to the centre of the town. Over the years of constant use, the original shop fronts have been replaced. We have re-instated; elegant and open shop fronts reminiscent of the original turn of the century design and provided a ramped access.
The works to the interior consisted of replacing the existing dilapidated timber floor with a chilled concrete slab. The suspended ceilings were removed and the original oregan trusses have been exposed. A south facing roof light with openable louvres has been constructed along the length of the building to bring natural light into the the main collection area and to create a stack effect for passive ventilation.
The Library has been planned to meet the needs of the rapidly changing and dynamic role of a local library within this rural community, providing space for internet access, private study, local history, childrens activities, a youth specific section and community events and meetings. It will house the current book collection with ample room for expansion in the future.
The building was opened in August 2009.
Photography by Kilian O'Sullivan