ALL MASTER PLANNING INSTITUTIONAL RESIDENTIAL

NORWELL PUBLIC LIBRARY

Sited in a mature forest with a high groundwater level, Norwell Library has the romantic image of “the library in the woods”. The original library site was troubled by flooding and under-used outside spaces and the new building has been sited to improve these conditions and take advantage of the natural environment. The proposed landscape design consists of educational rain gardens, a welcoming entry plaza and ample parking spaces between planting islands, preserving the natural quality of the woodland site. The native planting palette is integrated with the wooded context to bring the new library building and the existing environment together.

G2 was sensitive to the delicate ecosystem of the site and worked with environmental engineers to design the stormwater management strategy. The team implemented bio-swales within the parking lot and a central rain garden to collect roof run-off. The system will function as a filter to remove the sedimentation and contaminants from the run-off before slowly diverting it to the surrounding wetland.