Lewes Public Library receives AIA Design Honor Award

The American Institute of Architects Delaware recently recognized Lewes Public Library with a 2016 Honor Award, the highest level of award bestowed by AIA Delaware. Designers from the Becker Morgan Group and representatives from Lewes Public Library were present at the 2016 AIA DEsign Ball in Wilmington April 18 to receive the award.

The new Lewes Public Library is the culmination of a six-year planning effort which included multiple site options and extensive community involvement in the design effort. The new 28,500-square-foot facility nearly doubles the size of the 14,600-square-foot library it replaced in order to address growing population and service needs. The new facility is sited between two main thoroughfares adjacent to a city park and a new DelDOT bicycle trailhead facility, making it an integral part of the city fabric and a highly visible community asset and focal point.

The project was designed to be reflective of the local seaside vernacular, taking cues from old lifesaving stations, and pay homage to the location's past use as a railway spur. The interior was developed to be highly flexible, anchored by a large central volume housing a number of collections, with exposed wood trusses and extensive natural light provided by a central spine of clerestory windows. The project was designed to be energy efficient, highlighted by a 163.2-kilowatt roof-mounted solar array.

The Honor Award recognizes significant achievements by AIA members in the planning, design and execution of architectural projects. Architects from around the state submit images of drawings, sketches, models and buildings to an independent, out-of-state jury comprising architects and business people closely related to the design industry. The jury evaluates projects ranging from small residential renovations to large-scale corporate and government buildings.