Snøhetta’s Charlotte Mecklenburg Library (CML) project officially broke ground on August 15th in North Carolina with a demolition celebration of the existing Main Library building. Designed in collaboration with Clark Nexsen, the new library aims to become a major destination and centerpiece in Uptown Charlotte. 

“We wanted to celebrate this demolition to mark the start of a new beginning in Uptown Charlotte,” said CML CEO Marcellus Turner. “From the café to the community living room and the technology hub to the destination reading room, the new Main Library will be an inviting place to learn, grow and engage with others in our community.”

The facility stands at the head of Charlotte’s public library system, which consists of 21 branch libraries that welcome 3.4 million visitors each year. It aims to transcend its use as a conventional library by also serving as a public commons. The project is supported by funding from Mecklenburg County and a major investment by the Knight Foundation.

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The new five-story, 115,000-square-foot library will stand in the center of Charlotte’s rapidly evolving North Tryon corridor at the intersection of two main arteries, Tryon and 6th Street. The location is also significant in Charlotte’s geography and cultural history. The library design draws on the site’s topographical history by establishing views in a variety of directions and acting as a convergence point for community and culture.

At street level, the library cantilevers over the sidewalk, with a façade that is glazed in a transparent band of glass, allowing for views deep into the building. A copper soffit frames the main entrance on Tryon Street, providing cover for visitors. The sloping Tryon façade is clad in ceramic panels that were inspired by North Carolina’s history of earthenware and artisanry. The façade is strategically perforated to modulate the light conditions within. 

Inside, an atrium opens to the highest level of the library, which allows visitors to orient themselves immediately. A spiraling wooden stair moves upwards through the space, where unique views of the city can be seen, along with access to the outdoor terrace spaces on the second and fifth floors. A range of public programming will be offered throughout the library, including job training and counseling; a resource and welcome center for new Mecklenburg residents; and the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room, which will feature an archive of rare books and artifacts on North Carolina’s history. 

“Libraries are more popular today than they have ever been, serving a wider range of needs than access to books only,” said Snøhetta founding partner Craig Dykers. “Charlotte’s new library will lead the way in showing how a city and its core of knowledge can be open, welcoming, and intriguing for decades to come.”

The demolition process for the project is expected to be completed this winter, with the library set to open in the spring of 2026.