2003 marcos b. armijo library addition
Texas Society of Architects Design Award 2003
Judged amongst a group of 271 competitive entries, this project emerged along with six others as an exemplary design in Texas. TSA introduced the winners as the Magnificent Seven at the 2003 State Convention and featured them as the centerpiece for a seminar discussion. This award places Alvidrez Architecture Inc. as one of the best design firms in the State. Alvidrez Architecture Inc. is a firm that emphasizes critical architectural thought while exceeding a client’s expectations of schedule and budget.
The scope of work for this project involved building a 4,000 sf addition to the existing Marcos B, Armijo Branch Library. The existing library is located in one of El Paso’s poorest neighborhoods, better known as the “Segundo Barrio.” Thanks to the various community outreach efforts conducted by the library staff, the existing facility was in constant use and in need of more program space. The primary need centered around a large reading wing that would cater to the younger library user group and a multi-purpose area to better serve the community. Due to the density of the area, the only direction available for this expansion to occur was an existing courtyard that featured two large murals along the east and south wing. This space was physically defined by the existing library on its west side, a tall gymnasium structure on its east side, and a handball court along its south edge.
“El Segundo Barrio” is one of the most culturally expressive parts of the City of El Paso. The streetscapes are comprised of vivid murals and “vivienda” housing units that challenge the visitor to look beyond the muted brick walls and discover the beautiful spaces within. This is the setting for the Marcos B. Armijo Library Renovation Project. This architectural intervention celebrates the intrinsic beauty of the built environment by arranging itself around an existing courtyard lined with a mural painted by one of El Paso’s most celebrated muralists, Carlos Callejos. The orchestration of the building’s forms and spaces intended to heighten the visitor’s sense of curiosity and thereby encourage their personal interaction with the project.
