The Design Concept, an updated Spanish Mission Style, is based on the City’s old Municipal Library and Pier that was destroyed in the 1940’s. The Main Entrance, a gently curved, arched, arcade flanking the Central 2 Story Entry Foyer reaches out to welcome and draw patrons into the building.
A 2 Story Gallery that transforms part of the former City Ice Rink, links the Main Entrance to the Ocean Front Park on the south. The Gallery is flooded with diffused light from the continuous “A” frame translucent skylight above. Entrances to the Library, the Cultural Arts Center and Ventnor Historical Museum are from this Gallery. The existing steel structural framing of the former Ice rink was reused to support the Gallery skylight.
The project is an Addition and Alteration that links 4 separate structures into a single, aesthetically unified design. The Addition to the Library connects the former Ice Rink to the existing library that is remolded to house Library Offices, receiving, a Teen Area and a separate story telling area for young children.
The Second Floor of the Library that contains Meeting rooms, Offices, reference book and Computer carrels is visually linked to the First Floor by a sky lit Floor opening above a First Floor Planter.