Beloit Public Library

The Challenge

The City of Beloit, WI, home to 48,000 residents was outgrowing it’s library. This resulted in the building of a new facility of just over 54,000 sf.  This allowed the library to double in size and offer a variety of improvements. Improvements included a public meeting room, a children’s programming room and garden, an area dedicated to teens, a computer center and an enclosed reading room with a fireplace.

The design was an open space with light-colored masonry, stainless steel and anodized aluminum.  A primary focus of the design was the Hendricks Family Children’s Garden which needed to be enclosed for safety without infringing on the view.  The second area of concern, the refuse receptacle area, needed to be accessible but still maintain the overall polished look of the project. This put library in search of a suitable fencing and screening solutions.

The Solution

BarnettBates Corporation helped select and specify Orsogril fencing that was functional and would also complement the aesthetics of their design.

For the garden, Sterope provided safety and security with a high percentage of open area, almost disappearing when viewed directly.  For the dumpster enclosure, Talia-100 was used. This provided 100% direct visual screening while still allowing for the circulation of air flow.  DuPont’s “Silvadillo” powder coat finish was selected in both applications to approximate the tones of stainless steel and anodized aluminum found elsewhere in the award-winning facility.