Becker Morgan Group recently received a Merit Award for Excellence in Design from the American Institute of Architects Maryland (AIA MD) for designing Duck Creek Regional Library in Smyrna, Delaware. Becker Morgan Group’s design incorporates the circa 1915 Post Office building – located on Main Street and a visual mainstay in the community – with an 18,000 square-foot addition to create a new, modern library.
Particular care was taken to respect but not mimic the old Post Office building, while creating a facility that matches the scale and feel of downtown Smyrna. The AIA MD jury commented, “The layout for this community library complements rather than compromises the integrity of the older building with multiple pavilions relating proportionally to the historic building. Admirable use of forms and scale to achieve functional programmatic goals.”
Multiple community engagements were held to gather input and raise awareness of the library’s offerings and needs. The building is designed to be energy efficient and offers an inviting presence for users with large flexible open reading spaces and multiple meeting rooms to serve the community. The new Duck Creek Regional Library replaces a badly outdated and undersized facility, providing the heart of downtown with a vibrant library that will enliven the Smyrna area.
About Becker Morgan Group
Established in 1983, Becker Morgan Group is a leader in architecture, engineering, surveying, land planning, and interior design in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions of the United States. Learn more at www.beckermorgan.com.
