Bullitt County Public Library - Central library

In conjunction with a multidisciplinary design team, CARMAN provided site design services including landscape architecture and civil engineering for the new Bullitt County Public Library. The new facility will provide Shepherdsville residents a protected visitor entry plaza, ample parking, book drop-off, and tree-lined sidewalks. A dedicated path, away from the main traffic flow, will guide students along a sidewalk punctuated with benches and interpretive signage forming a “storywalk”.

The architects’ design of shifting volumes created an internal courtyard and multiples insets within the building’s perimeter. The CARMAN team embraced the design opportunity, providing themed courtyards based in the four seasons and the four classical Greek elements. The central Summer/Water Courtyard has a cooling water feature and a wall of bamboo to tame the harsh sun rays. Sculptural boulders and a twisting, corkscrew-branched filbert shrub (“Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick”) will capture interest when covered in the snow and ice in the Winter/Earth Courtyard. The Spring/Air courtyard is accentuated with loads of flowering plants and melodies from the wind chimes. And finally, a fireplace and plants with vibrant fall color complete the Autumn/Fire courtyard. The themed spaces provide an opportunity to educate visitors and begin a dialogue about ancient cultures, astrology, botany, geology, climates, and more.

The library site faced significant challenges, partially due to its immediate adjacency to Interstate-65. For example, soil containing unstable pyritic shale was previously placed across the entire site and it required an undercut depth of 3 to 10 feet. The process was further complicated by the geothermal well field that will extend across several portions of the parking lot. CARMAN coordinated with the mechanical engineers to ensure the wells were not in conflict with site improvements, like other underground utilities and tree roots. Stormwater management is critical since City Hall is located immediately downstream from the library. Central to the parking lot, stormwater infiltration is encouraged in the form of a raingarden featuring Shenandoah switch grass, winterberry, and red chokeberry shrubs. Finally, a detention basin, combined with a water quality unit, prevent downstream flooding and pollutants from escaping the site.