Following the devastating thousand-year flood of 2010, the Bellevue Library stands as a symbol of the city’s commitment to the local community.

The library’s dynamic form is welcoming and inspiring: establishing a community landmark knit beautifully into the surrounding landscape and neighborhood. Inspired by the collection housed within, two open books bisected at a central spine define the building form. The central spine provides intuitive circulation, organizing the various functions.

The layout of the library gives users a variety of seating and space options from louder, group collaborative spaces to more intimate individual reading spots.

A steel screen protects the full-height glass on the south facade from direct solar intrusion into the café, lounge, and primary stacks area, as well as the exterior reading porch. The custom perforation pattern was generated from the Harpeth River’s meandering path though Bellevue.