Granite Library

Salt Lake City

Award of Merit

Submitted By: Method Studio

Owner: Salt Lake County

Lead Design Firm: Method Studio

General Contractor: Hughes General Contractors

Civil Engineer: Forsgren Associates

Structural Engineer: BHB Engineers

MEP Engineer: VBFA

Landscape Architect: Loft Six Four

Goals for this library included integrating collections from two older branches into an inviting, accessible and sustainable 21st-century facility that better meets the demands of its growing service area. The 30,000-sq-ft, LEED Gold-designed project also includes a 6-acre master plan and site development for public outdoor spaces. The library serves a wide variety of patrons and offers additional community space such as a playground, walking trail, outdoor amphitheater and areas with electrical connections for food trucks and picnic tables.

The project was built on the site of the former Granite High School, which was demolished in 2017. The library design honors the former high school with window penetrations and concrete panel detailing that speak to the school’s design while adding modern elements such as glass and fins. A compound curved roof and the building’s ceiling structures provide a large open interior space. The design also incorporated salvaged items from the school, including the gym floor and original seal.