Duffy Elementary School
Library Addition
West Hartford, Connecticut
$906,000
The new library at Duffy Elementary School was constructed in a courtyard with three sides against the original school. The fourth side faces west. The 3,000 square foot library is designed to accommodate four classes at once- a class in the computer room, two classes at desks and a reading area for lower elementary.
The one exterior west wall is made of translucent glass. The roof overhangs six feet to shade the low western sun to provide a shelter area. The reading room at the center of the library is raised with a band of south facing translucent windows to maximize daylight. The exterior walls of this high center portion are covered with aluminum shingles- the scaly skin of the school's dragon mascot.
The vacated library space was renovated into two classrooms.