A new community hub settled into the landscape

The Madbury Public Library is both a traditional library and a new community center — a place to engage with ideas, technology, neighbors, and the surrounding environment. Brought to life by an extraordinary five-year effort between volunteer Friends of the Library and a citizenry committed to funding the venture, the new building serves as the library’s first permanent home.

The design team sited the building to reinforce a cohesive town center, clustered with the Madbury town hall, elementary school, and playing fields. The style responds to the community’s desire to maintain the scale and formal simplicity of traditional New England architecture while at the same time provide a contemporary gathering space. Throughout the interior, large windows frame views of the nearby forest and invite visitors to engage with the woodlands and walking trails.