The Make MORE Noyes Renovation Design
Background for the Renovation Design
Built in 1893 as a town lending library, Noyes joined the public library system in the 1950’s and in 1970 narrowed its focus to support the youngest readers – infants to age 6. The Make MORE Noyes Renovation project will greatly expand the Library's mission to be a model for early learning and early literacy through books.
The goal of the renovation is to provide universal access to this historic library for children and adults with all abilities; maintain the library collection on the first floor; and enhance the services offered to the community through the addition of The Jan Jablonski Early Literacy Training Center (JJELTC) to the Noyes Children’s Library. The JJELTC was dedicated at Noyes on March 11, 2017, as a component of Montgomery County Public Libraries.
The intention of the expanded design is to maintain as much of the Library’s exterior historic fabric as possible, while providing much-needed space to make the library viable on an unusually tight triangular island site. The internal expansion of the useable space is largely concealed from view.
The proposed renovation re-establishes the original Reading Room, which was modified during the 1940’s and 1950’s renovations. Montgomery County Public Libraries plans to maintain the Reading Room and Children’s Book Collection on the first floor.
The area of the original porch that was substantially modified during those prior renovations will be used for as a vestibule space. The vestibule will access both a new interior stair at the southwest corner of the existing building and the glass link and elevator tower at the northwest corner, both of which will provide access to the three proposed levels of the library.
The glass link entrance on the northwest corner of the first floor will provide a secondary means of egress to the first floor, required by IBC and NFPA codes, and will have direct access to the library from both Carroll Place and Montgomery Avenue. There will be an on-grade accessible path from street parking, and access to an outside courtyard space for patrons and staff to enjoy.
Montgomery County Public Libraries requires three main programing spaces in the building to satisfy their Program of Requirements (POR). The three spaces are proposed on each of three different floor levels. In addition to the main library reading room level, staff space is proposed on the upper level and the JJELTC program/ classroom is proposed for the lower level.
The goal of the renovation is to provide universal access to this historic library for children and adults with all abilities; maintain the library collection on the first floor; and enhance the services offered to the community through the addition of The Jan Jablonski Early Literacy Training Center (JJELTC) to the Noyes Children’s Library. The JJELTC was dedicated at Noyes on March 11, 2017, as a component of Montgomery County Public Libraries.
The intention of the expanded design is to maintain as much of the Library’s exterior historic fabric as possible, while providing much-needed space to make the library viable on an unusually tight triangular island site. The internal expansion of the useable space is largely concealed from view.
The proposed renovation re-establishes the original Reading Room, which was modified during the 1940’s and 1950’s renovations. Montgomery County Public Libraries plans to maintain the Reading Room and Children’s Book Collection on the first floor.
The area of the original porch that was substantially modified during those prior renovations will be used for as a vestibule space. The vestibule will access both a new interior stair at the southwest corner of the existing building and the glass link and elevator tower at the northwest corner, both of which will provide access to the three proposed levels of the library.
The glass link entrance on the northwest corner of the first floor will provide a secondary means of egress to the first floor, required by IBC and NFPA codes, and will have direct access to the library from both Carroll Place and Montgomery Avenue. There will be an on-grade accessible path from street parking, and access to an outside courtyard space for patrons and staff to enjoy.
Montgomery County Public Libraries requires three main programing spaces in the building to satisfy their Program of Requirements (POR). The three spaces are proposed on each of three different floor levels. In addition to the main library reading room level, staff space is proposed on the upper level and the JJELTC program/ classroom is proposed for the lower level.
Click on the images below for more detailed renderings of the renovation designs:
The staff space on the second level requires a direct means of egress to the exterior from the stairwell. The south façade of the building has been altered to add an exterior door below the western window. This door also services as the required second means of egress directly to the exterior from the lower level JJELTC program space/ classroom. The Fire Marshall has indicated that the new stair must exit directly to the exterior, and is not permitted to exit through the first floor foyer.
The most significant exterior change is the addition of an elevator that will provide accessibility to all three levels. The design locates the glass elevator in a separate tower at the NW corner, connected to the original building by a glass link that clearly differentiates new from old.
The proposed renovation converts the present crawlspace into useable lower level, to house the Jan Jablonski Early Literacy Center Program Room. The Jan Jablonski Early Literacy Training Center will help to ensure that all children have developed the reading, listening and writing skills needed to enter school ready to learn. The JJELTC will provide access to current early literacy materials, programs, and activities for parents and professionals, including books, story time programing, and tactile experiences to engage with children. The center will also provide professional development for children's librarians, students enrolled in information science programs at local colleges and universities, daycare providers, and early childhood educators. The training center will also offer programming development for all branches of Montgomery County Public Libraries.
The current unused attic space is proposed to be converted to a much-needed staff office, storage and break room, with a staff bathroom and universal access to all three floors.
The existing building exterior will be otherwise restored, maintaining the existing windows, repairing the shingle roof where needed and removing years of peeling paint and repainting the exterior. In order to maximize the interior useable space, the vestibule porch that was added over 40 years ago will remain enclosed and the small entry facing west will be retained, with some repair work to the front stoop and front railings.
The space in front of the Library will be landscaped to provide a low sitting wall and plantings that shield the central gathering space from the traffic, while providing universal access to the space for the community.
This project has been in design off and on for over 10 years, in coordination with MCPL, MC DGS, MHT, and MC HPC, along with the various agencies' engineers and consultants. MHT and HPC approved the proposed design in late 2019, and the Permit was submitted to MC DGS in 2020 and approved in July of 2021.
The most significant exterior change is the addition of an elevator that will provide accessibility to all three levels. The design locates the glass elevator in a separate tower at the NW corner, connected to the original building by a glass link that clearly differentiates new from old.
The proposed renovation converts the present crawlspace into useable lower level, to house the Jan Jablonski Early Literacy Center Program Room. The Jan Jablonski Early Literacy Training Center will help to ensure that all children have developed the reading, listening and writing skills needed to enter school ready to learn. The JJELTC will provide access to current early literacy materials, programs, and activities for parents and professionals, including books, story time programing, and tactile experiences to engage with children. The center will also provide professional development for children's librarians, students enrolled in information science programs at local colleges and universities, daycare providers, and early childhood educators. The training center will also offer programming development for all branches of Montgomery County Public Libraries.
The current unused attic space is proposed to be converted to a much-needed staff office, storage and break room, with a staff bathroom and universal access to all three floors.
The existing building exterior will be otherwise restored, maintaining the existing windows, repairing the shingle roof where needed and removing years of peeling paint and repainting the exterior. In order to maximize the interior useable space, the vestibule porch that was added over 40 years ago will remain enclosed and the small entry facing west will be retained, with some repair work to the front stoop and front railings.
The space in front of the Library will be landscaped to provide a low sitting wall and plantings that shield the central gathering space from the traffic, while providing universal access to the space for the community.
This project has been in design off and on for over 10 years, in coordination with MCPL, MC DGS, MHT, and MC HPC, along with the various agencies' engineers and consultants. MHT and HPC approved the proposed design in late 2019, and the Permit was submitted to MC DGS in 2020 and approved in July of 2021.
