Integrative Design Studio | 2023
Program: Library
Completed: 2023
Location: Cass Park, Ithaca, NY
Professor: Katharina Kral
Design a library serving as both an annex to the Cornell University Library system and a center for the community in Ithaca, NY.
The Ribbon Library utilizes a fragmented plan organization as a formal strategy to connect the library with the site. Intended to serve as an annex of the Cornell University Library System, it not only serves the student body of Cornell but the local Ithaca community as well. The placement of the distinct building masses was generated by considering the areas of the site that library-goers would want to see—Cayuga Lake and the Waterfront Trail—as well as considering where the masses would be most visible to people passing by the library by car or by foot/bike.
Responding to the Site
After identifying the view cones into and out of the site, as well as its textures and materials, four cylindrical masses were conceived, with a fifth overlapping them all in the center. The masses were then “massaged” and merged together with ribbon-like brick walls to create a fluid promenade and allow programs to flow into each other. The masses loop around themselves to create a hallway that connects them to the central courtyard. The loops combine with the central mass to create a radial circulation pattern that encourages exploration of all the library’s spaces.
Accessibility and Environmental Concerns
The Ribbon Library’s wide corridors exceed the building code accessibility requirements. Exit travel distances, FAR, lot coverage, and ADA water closets are also in compliance with the code and would not need to obtain a zoning variance.
The masses get increasingly shorter from the southwest to the northeast to not overshadow the Waterfront Trail during the low winter sun. Skylights are placed throughout the roof of the library to further connect the library with the outside and enhance the experience of the library.
Structural Systems
The two way voronoi shaped wooden beam grid system accentuates the skylights and provides a lightweight, perceptually floating element that contrasts with the heaviness of the brick walls that hold it up. The roof itself is made of prefabricated wooden panels that include all of the insulation inside; they are connected to each other with self tapping screws. Glue laminated wooden columns supplement the interior load bearing walls in transferring loads to the ground.
Experiencing the Library
The curving brick walls create an enticing promenade that encourages users to follow its paths and roam around the library. The undulating yet heavy walls serve as a counterpoint to the lightweight yet angular roof beam system. Generous skylights and a central courtyard allow natural daylighting to enter the space. The building’s relatively low height and subdued colors and form allow it to blend with the landscape, at one with its picturesque surroundings.