Aluminium Miele Maple roofing Story by Pure + FreeForm Aluminium Miele Maple roofing

K.O. LEE ABERDEEN PUBLIC LIBRARY

CO-OP Architecture as Architects

The K.O. Lee Library, with its linear configuration along 3rd Avenue, is of a contemporary design with inspiration from the vernacular of four original railroad depots in Aberdeen which still stand today, including; The Great Northern Depot, The Milwaukee Depot, The Chicago Northwestern Depot and The Minneapolis and St. Louis Depot. While these depots articulate multiple styles of architecture, three of these, along with the historic buildings to the north of this library that formally housed Central High School, are predominately designed in the Craftsman/Prairie Style, and this new building attempts to pay subtle deference to that style in a contemporary way.


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After more than eight years of effort and a passed bond vote, Aberdeen proceeded with replacing its 1950’s era library. The former library was overcrowded, had little natural light, and suffered from repeated water damage. A new civic based design was pursued to address these issues, and to develop a new “living room” for the city. The result is a state-of-the-art building that can both inspire and serve the needs of the community. This library was not designed to be a bin for dusty books and card files; it was designed to be a center of creativity, research and collaboration...and to be free to the public.

 

As a result of the many railroad lines that entered the city and created spokes, or a “hub”, from an aerial perspective, Aberdeen, South Dakota, was nicknamed the “Hub City”. This library, located near the heart of where those railroad lines first converged more than one hundred years ago, is intended to be a link to the past and the future, and is another kind of community hub – designed to connect and enrich residents and guests for many generations.

 

Aluminium Miele Maple roofing

Pure + FreeForm as Metal cladding

The expansive slope roofs of the K.O. Lee Library are finished with 1mm Aluminium Miele Maple, Oxidized Silver Hairline and Frozen Hairline metal. Replacing a 1950’s library, the architecture references the vernacular of the railroad depots as well as as the Craftman/Prairie architecture of historic buildings to the north of the site in a contemporary way. 


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Pure + Freeform is an architectural metal design studio specializing in bespoke finishes and cladding products for exterior and interior applications.


Their custom metal panels bridge the gap between accessibility, beauty, and relevance.


Pure + FreeForm’s studio works closely with each project’s design team to produce site-specific finishes and systems for metal cladding applications. Through their custom metal cladding products, their vision is to create destinations recognized globally for their inspiring, contextual, purposeful designs.

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ElementBrand
Metal claddingPure + FreeForm
ManufacturersDaikin Europe
ManufacturersTubelite Inc.
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