the idea: make a library out of an abandoned Walmart

the ideator: Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle

What used to be an abandoned Walmart in McAllen, Texas was converted into the largest single-story library in the United States.  The design firm responsible, Meyer, Schrer & Rockcastle, has won several rewards for their colorful, bright design.  While the industrial ceilings and the layout of the building are recognizable from its Walmart days, everything else has been changed.  Bookcases line the walls, art hides in the corners, and colors cover everything.

In an article called “10 Steps to a Better Library Interior,” Traci Engel Lesneski says that step 10 is to embrace color.  She describes psychological studies on color that show how different colors effect mood, an important thing to keep in mind in a library.  Just check out the photos of the new award-winning McAllen library to see what she means.