Mecklenburg Law Library
Charlotte, North Carolina

Access to all legal documents and laws is a problem for many people who do not have availability to such materials. While many law firms develop and sustain their own extensive legal libraries, many attorneys simply cannot afford to develop this resource. Moreover, the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County understood the need for the general public to access a specialized law collection. The project is located in the historic Mecklenburg County Courthouse, adjacent to the Government Center and County Courthouse complex. The library is designed to coordinate new shelving and technology systems with the existing structural conditions of the historic facility. The design team successfully accomplished the library goals including expanded community services, technology data links for corporations and archives space. The final project also served as a cultural catalyst for redevelopment of Charlotte's First Ward Historic Neighborhood.