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April 12, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Donna Scott-Martin
301-699-3500, ext. 6152
Laurel, MD – The Laurel Branch of the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System is the proud recipient of the 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design. The Laurel Branch Library is the only library in the state of Maryland to receive this award in the past 43 years. The AIA/ALA Library Building Awards recognize entire library structures in all aspects of their design. Our Laurel Branch Library was designed by Grimm + Parker architects. Michael Gannon, the Library System’s Co-Chief Executive Officer manages all capital improvement projects for the Library, including the award winning Laurel Branch. “We are honored to be one of only six libraries in the nation this year to receive this prestigious award,” Gannon said.
Capturing the history of this Laurel community with deep African American roots, the textured stone, dynamic lines and bold forms were incorporated into the design. The landscape of the library’s grounds showcases cherry trees, oak trees and drought-resistant plants. The Laurel Branch Library boast of many "green" features: roof mounted solar panels, electric car charging stations, stormwater management, filtered water fountains, energy efficient lighting and a living plant wall.
Imaginative uses of the building’s 32-thousand square feet of interior space include a replica paleontological dig site in the floor of the children’s area, dinosaur seating, public art pieces by local artists, a café with vending machines and study, meeting and conference rooms. The building’s self-explanatory layout and logical flow patterns, reduces the need for signage. "The library has today and tomorrow in mind with its design and flexibility and provides the modern library user with all the experiences necessary to make a great library visit," a juror reflected.
About Prince George’s County Memorial Library System
The Prince George’s County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS), consisting of 19 branches, offers strategies for lifelong learning. Skills development library resources include: Rosetta Stone Library Solution, Lynda.com, Brainfuse’s HelpNow and JobNow, ArtistWorks for Libraries and Learning Express Library. Early literacy resources are: Ready 2 Read Centers, Ready 2 Read Backpacks, ABCmouse, AWE Early Literacy Stations, Beanstack, Playaway Launchpads and PebbleGo. All these services are free with your PGCMLS library card. Also, enjoy Minecraft, 3D printing, DREAM (Digital Resources for Electronic Applications in Media) lab, chess clubs and MAC (Manga and Anime Clubs) free at your library. Engage with us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube. Check out our mobile apps! Learn more about what your Library has to offer at www.pgcmls.info.
About Grimm + Parker
At Grimm + Parker our mission statement is creating together: meaningful architecture + client success. We’re a diverse group of architects and designers who aspire to make our communities wonderful places to live, learn and play. As community architects, we seek to give meaning to the buildings and spaces that shape our lives. Our purpose is to serve our clients and their neighborhoods through the design of schools, libraries, mixed-use developments, multi-family residential spaces, and a wide array of cultural and civic buildings. The buildings we create serve a meaningful purpose and give back to their communities for years to come.