Montgomery County Public Library - Rockville Branch

Rockville, MD > Rockville Groups & Organizations > Montgomery County Public Library - Rockville Branch

address:21 Maryland Avenue Rockville, MD 20850 phone:240-777-0140 website:Montgomery County Public Library - Rockville Branch

About Us:

In the design for the new library, Grimm + Parker sought to find a way to commemorate a significant local occurrence -- the mapping of the human genome -- on a large public scale that would subtly and respectfully pay homage to this very important, historical discovery.

Overall, the building follows the curvature of Maryland Avenue, while the exterior wall undulates along the curve – a subtle reference to one half of a double helix. The landscaping along the Maryland Avenue façade completes the other side of the double helix, also in a subtle-yet-elegant fashion.

This signature element of the library’s design gives the building an appropriate civic presence, as well as a unique physical expression that makes a memorable, inviting impression on visitors to the new Town Center.

There are towers at two prominent corners. The one at the corner of Beall and Maryland avenues marks the gateway to the new Town Center and also is highly visible to motorists on Rockville Pike. The second tower -- at the corner of Maryland Avenue and the new Town Center Plaza -- serves as a marquee for the library and attracts the eye from Maryland Avenue to the south facing plaza façade to the main entrance. A glass roofed canopy extends out to the plaza to invite entry. A tall portico element expresses entrance at a large scale and is visible from beyond the plaza area.