design-joplin4

Rebirth After Tragedy

Joplin (Mo.) Public Library

The new library in Joplin, Missouri, is a symbol of rebirth and a testament to the town’s perseverance in the years following the devastating EF5 tornado that destroyed much of the city in 2011. Larger by more than 22,000 square feet than the old library, which escaped the tornado unscathed, the new building has a cultural center with indoor and outdoor space for the community to gather and learn.

Project: New construction
Architect: Sapp Design Architects/OPN Architects
Size: 58,000 square feet
Cost: $14.4 million
Photo: Gayle Babcock/Architectural Imageworks