Completed 2025
4,950 square feet
New Construction

The recipient of a construction grant through the MBLC's Small Library Pilot Project, this new mass-timber-framed library on a sensitive wetland site in a small rural Western MA town replaces an existing 768 SF one-room library with no running water and dramatically expands the library's ability to serve the community with a new 4,600 SF facility. Sized to fall just below the area threshold for a code required fire protection system, and thereby saving the town significant cost, this small library—organized under a simple long gable—maximizes flexibility and at the same time provides dedicated spaces for adults, children, and teens, each with ample natural daylight and views to the surrounding woods and wetland meadow.

Although the library sits on a 19-acre site, the project focused development on the 5 acres closest to the road. Extensive wetland resource areas and high water table required careful siting of the building, parking, septic system, and public well to minimize the impact of development on the sensitive site, all closely coordinated with the town's conservation commission. Wetland meadow buffers were created between the building and wetland resource areas. In addition to the exposed timber structural frame, materials include wood windows, natural wood ceilings and siding, and Vermont slate shingles—a palette that connects the building to its natural surroundings.

The recently completed project is targeting net-zero energy with 100% on-site renewable energy by way of a roof-mounted solar array for the all electric, fossil fuel free building.