This small community library was designed within a larger educational campus delivered by McAdams which included Finaghy Road library and sports pitches. Envisaged as a site learning facility for the adjacent school the building can also be accessed separately by the local community. The scheme includes a large open plan library and reading space top lit from a large north light which floods the room with high quality natural light. This space is augmented by a series of appropriately sized and located quite rooms, administration offices and toilet facilities. In combination these spaces work seamlessly together to provide an outstanding library facility and was commended by the Client upon completion. The success of this scheme allowed McAdams to undertake and deliver a further community library on the Lisburn Road for the same client. The Lisburn Road Library included the refurbishment of this much-loved facility within a sensitive conservation area.
Finaghy Library (and the follow-up Lisburn Road Library) are excellent examples of how a modest intervention can transform the education facilities in a local community. In particular Finaghy Library shows the synergy that can be created between small community libraries and local schools. This approach ensures the library is fully utilised during the school day whilst also providing a valuable local community facility in the evenings and at weekends. Key features include:
