Gensler’s adaptive reuse project, Frisco Public Library, has breathed new life into a former 157,000-square-foot rocket factory in Texas. The transformed space now serves as a hub for innovation, learning, and community engagement.
The design team’s approach emphasized preserving the building’s industrial heritage while introducing natural light, flexible interiors, and collaborative spaces. The resulting structure seamlessly blends old and new, featuring exposed structural elements, large glass windows, and a dynamic interior layout.
Frisco Public Library has garnered significant recognition, including the 2024 American Architecture Award from The Chicago Athenaeum and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
The library’s unique design addresses the site’s context, incorporating two entrances that cater to different user groups. Inspired by traditional Dogtrot-style homes, the design team created an interior breezeway connecting the two entrances, effectively separating secured and unsecured areas within the building.
Sustainability played a crucial role in the design process. The team implemented various strategies to reduce the building’s energy load, including the use of native planting, bioswale water collection areas, and an interpretive nature walk. The building’s façade features louvres, clerestory windows, and automated shading systems to minimize solar impact.
Project Details:
Project: Frisco Public Library
Architects: Gensler
Lead Architects: Justin Bashaw and Paul Manno
General Contractor: Byrne Construction Services
Client: The City of Frisco, Texas
Photographers: Connie Zhou
Image Courtesy: gobaldesignnews.com
