Libraries, as repositories of knowledge and places for the transfer of information, have been a vital force in civic life since earliest times. The Branch Library for the Ironbound, will play a comparable role in the life of its neighborhood. In recent times, the way our society stores and accesses information has changed dramatically. Some have questioned the future of library architecture, others understand that libraries will not become obsolete, but rather evolve. The traditional role of libraries has moved away from being simply storage facilities for books to serving a much larger role. Innovative libraries act as centers for community members to interact, access new forms of information, research, study and explore.

Our site is situated at the intersection of Adams & Walnut Streets at the Northwest corner Independence Park. The site is currently occupied by a BP service station, a use that does not contribute to the neighborhood’s vitality. Besides the obvious conicts with automobile trac in an otherwise pedestrian realm, it is an inappropriate use for such a prominent location. Independence Park brings together residential, commercial, religious, institutional and recreational uses; all essential elements for a vibrant urban community. The surrounding uses, physical, cultural and historical context, scale, light, and the prominence of the corner condition, are all important site conditions that must be considered in the design of your library. Currently the Van Buren Street Library serves as the Ironbound’s branch library.