Project
Christa McAuliffe Branch Library
City of Framingham
Framingham, Massachusetts
The library celebrates teacher Christa McAuliffe, the educator-astronaut whose life was tragically cut short in the Challenger space shuttle disaster. Inspired by her spirit, Finegold Alexander’s design creates a soaring roof in the shape of a wing, lifting over the main reading areas. Spaces for community gathering, quiet reading and learning more than tripled the scale of the original branch library. Daylit spaces infused with technology enhance and reflect the library’s mission of engagement with patrons in their quest for knowledge and learning.
(Photo credit: header exterior - Raj Das Photography; second and third exterior and interior photos - Gustav Hoiland)
Share via
Size
17,000 SF
Scope
New Construction
Program
Children, Teen and Adult Reading Areas, Technology Integration, Community Meeting Space, Outdoor Seating Area
Sustainability
LEED Silver
Awards
No items found.
In the news
Project EUI
No items found.
“This library embodies Christa’s essence, her beliefs and it reflects the way in which she lived her life.”
Lisa Bristol, sister of Christa McAuliffe
No items found.
Working with the community, Finegold Alexander sought to create an uplifting and soaring library to capture McAuliffe’s spirit, teaching legacy, and the town’s shared values while working within a tight budget.
No items found.
“It took a lot of people working very hard, working towards a common objective... I think anybody that believes in education, that believes in lifelong learning, that believes in involving kids, they … would have to love it.”
Sam Klaidman, Library Trustee
You may also like this
view other project categories