Oxboro Library

Oxboro Library, located in Bloomington, Minnesota, is a refurbishment and small addition to a 1973 brutalist library. The original library had low ceilings and a segmented layout which left the library feeling dark and cramped despite being only slightly undersized. By replacing the low punched openings placed into tight recesses with a dramatic glassy addition, the library takes advantage of views to its park-like setting and ample daylight to create an open and vibrant interior and inviting exterior reading spaces which extend the library into its natural setting. The library’s proximity to two schools meant the library had a large number of teenage users in addition to an older set of core users. The new addition doubles the size of the teen area and provides an acoustic buffer between the more active areas of the library from the quiet reading room providing users of all ages comfortable study areas. With new high-quality finishes and energy efficient walls and windows this once outdated and inefficient library will once again be the pride of its community and accommodating to its patrons.