Library Design Charts Architectural Waves

by Stacy Rinella | April 2, 2025 7:17 am

The exterior of the library features tall glass windows and white paneling. A car is parked on the street out front. [1]
The striking, sweeping design echoes the form of traditional sailing ships. Photos by Aaron Apitzsch, East Coast Metal Systems

To celebrate the Town of Bladensburg’s maritime history, Gant Brunnett Architects Inc. designed Bladensburg Branch Library with a nautical theme. Its striking, sweeping design echoes the form of traditional sailing ships.

Bladensburg is a former port town and residential suburb of Washington, D.C., on the Anacostia River. The library replaced a functionally outdated, 678 m2 (7,300 sf) building constructed in 1925 with a 2,121 m2 (22,834 sf) modern, sustainable library.

The exterior is clad with gray-colored metal panels. Diamond-shaped and horizontally oriented standing seam zinc panels create distinct patterns and textures on the building which express the nautical theme.

The remainder of the exterior is a combination of metal composite material (MCM) panels on overhangs and fascia, white masonry, and glazing.

The top portion of the exterior wall features the name of the library in grey lettering, on top of blue metal panels. [2]
Parts of the exterior is a combination of metal composite material (MCM) panels on overhangs and fascia, white masonry, and glazing.

East Coast Metal Systems fabricated, and Scheibel Construction installed, two types of 0.8 mm (0.03 in.) thick zinc wall panels on a rainscreen attachment system with 38 mm (1.5 in.) thick metal decking: standing seam panels and diamond-shaped, flat-lock panels.

In total, 623 m2 (6,700 sf), as 500 panels, of standing seam zinc panels, 595 m2 (6,400 sf) in 3,200 panels of diamond-shaped, flat-lock zinc panels, 335 m (1,100 ft) of zinc trim were used.

Scheibel Construction also installed a dry joint rainscreen attachment system with 88 m2 (949 sf) of 4 mm thick metal composite material (MCM) panels with an anodic clear finish.

The Bladensburg Branch Library of Prince George’s County Memorial Library System is a LEED Silver-certified project. Notable sustainability features include solar panels and electric car charging stations.

The facility also has modern amenities including a maker space, and indoor and outdoor fireplaces. Inside the library, the nautical theme continues in the children’s area with a bowsprit sculpture, authentic ship’s wheel, wooden dock, and vibrant wave designs.

Two peaks on the roof feature a diamond-shaped metal panels. [3]
Diamond-shaped and horizontally oriented standing seam zinc panels create distinct patterns and textures on the building which express the nautical theme.

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1726078963-6502.jpg
  2. [Image]: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1726078932-2488.jpg
  3. [Image]: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1726078958-3119.jpg

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