White Lake Township Library

New Facility

White Lake Township, Michigan

To accommodate a growing community, White Lake Library moved to a newly constructed building that is over three times the size of the former building. Double the space for children, teen, and adult sections and quadruple the parking are among the advantages offered by the library’s new home.

Balancing delicately between budget constraints, challenging topography, and conflicting community opinions, C2AE developed a pragmatic yet elegant design for the new facility that draws on deep collaboration. The resulting layout takes advantage of the five-acre site’s natural vegetation and gently rolling hills. The interior highlights a makerspace separated from the common area with vision glass and acoustic seals to allow onlookers a glimpse at the creativity inside without the associated sounds and scents. A coffee bar and fireplace work together with expanded computer and tech capabilities, additional community rooms and study spaces, and a new historical and genealogical section to thoughtfully update the township’s library experience.