The existing main branch for Orangeburg County Library no longer met the growing community needs. Situated a few blocks away, a new site was identified for its closer proximity to downtown and several local universities.
Originally home to a Piggly Wiggly grocery store, the initial site design approach was to repurpose the abandoned grocery store structure, however, only the foundation was structurally suitable for reuse. The grocery store footprint was ultimately incorporated into the overall footprint that extends towards Russell Street. A significant grade change between the former grocery store and the street level presented a unique design challenge for the building program. The final design strategy separates the program into three zones—the library, community spaces, and conferencing space—all connected by a terraced gallery.
Firm: Studio 2LR, Inc.
Location: Orangeburg, SC
Photo: Keith Isaacs
