The Aidan Heavey Library is located in the Athlone Civic Centre building. The 4,200
m² Civic Centre forms the focal point of the regeneration of Athlone town centre. The library itself is 1050m2
The main library is located on the ground floor to the south, off the main foyer, in the left wing. Due to the sloping nature of the site, the children's library is located on the lower ground floor to the north. The main library space is double-height volume. A top-lit public entrance foyer provides access to library (and all other elements of the building). The building has a roof terrace.
The building displays an integrated approach to energy efficiency and sustainability. Natural ventilation and daylighting are provided through lightwells and rooflights. Stone louvres to the south provide solar shading during summer.
The building faces the 19th century St Mary's church and associated Jacobean stone tower, situated across the square. Remnants of the 17th century town wall have been incorporated into the adjacent public square. The area in front of the building is landscaped in white concrete paving slabs dressed in local sandstone, with teak-topped concrete benching.
Take a virtual tour of the Aidan Heavey Library, in the Athlone Civic Centre.
Previously the library had been housed in the Fr. Mathew Hall.
Library Details
| Local Authority Name |
Westmeath County Council |
| Library |
Athlone |
| Library Name |
Aidan Heavey Public Library |
| Date Opened |
13 May 2005 |
Locality & Services
| Type of Service |
Branch library |
| Type of Building |
Purpose-built library |
| Description of Locality |
Town centre |
| Urban Population |
14347 |
| Stand Alone Facility |
No |
Locality & Services
| Partnerships |
Local authority area offices, One-stop-shop, Town council offices |
| Location on Site |
Lower ground floor, ground floor |
Size & Costs
| Number of Floors |
2 |
| Size (m2) |
1050 |
| Cost of Library |
€5,500,000 |
| Funding Sources |
Local Authority, DEHLG |
Features & Facilities
| Special Features |
Architectural features
Furnishings and fit-out
Landscaping
Sloping site |
| Accessibility |
Accessible entrance
Accessible lift
Accessible parking
Assistive technology
Signage |
| Sustainability / Future Proofing |
Cross ventilation
Maximum day-lighting
Shading/overshadowing |
| Special Facilities |
Baby changing facilities
Exhibition/ multi-purpose area
Local studies collection
Multi-media/self-learning area
Special collections |
| Parking |
Free parking adjacent |
| Internet Access |
20 terminals |
| Wi-Fi |
No |
| Printing |
No |
| Photocopying |
No |
| References |
- Irish Library News, No.242, 2004.
- 'Civic pride drives KWA regeneration scheme' Architect's Journal, 213 (23), 14 June 2001, p.6-7
- 'Ireland's civic pride: an architectural tour' / Emmett Scanlon A10: New European Architecture, (8) March/April 2006, p.58-60
- 'Eire apparent' / Frank McDonald Building design, (1644), 1 October 2004, p.12-15
- Irish Library News, No.248, 2005.
- Irish Library News, No.252, 2005.
- 'Irish Identity' / Kenneth Powell, The Architectural Review, 217 (1295), January 2005, p.48-53
- Census 2006 Table 12 Alphabetical list of Towns with their population, 2002 and 2006 (Population within legally defined boundary)
- Civic Pride drives KWA regeneration scheme Architects' Journal, 213 (23), 14 June 2001, pp6-7
- Athlone Civic Centre, Library and Town Square. New Irish Architecture, 21, 2006, p.166-173.
- Athlone Library and Civic Centre. Plan Architectural Review, 2005, p.8-11.
|
Architect & Design Team
| Architect Name |
Keith Williams Architects, London (2005) |
| County/City Librarian |
Westmeath County Council; Westmeath County Librarian (2005) |
Additional Information
| |
The library holds the Aidan Heavey collection which is regarded as the most prestigious private library of Irish interest material collected in the 20th Century. It contains many rare and unique items, including books from the seventeenth century to the present day, first editions, fine bindings and manuscript material; it is a closed access collection.
Awards received include:
- Chicago Athenaeum International Architecture Prize, 2006
- Opus Awards for Architecture & Construction 2005: Award winner
- Lighting Design Awards 2005: Best Exterior Lighting Project
- RIAI awards 2005: RIAI Regional Award winner & Special Award for Best Sustainability Project
- AAI Awards 2006: Special Award RIBA Awards 2005, RIBA European Award winner
- Overall winner of the 2005 Irish Concrete Society Awards.
- AJ/Bovis Award, Highly Commended
- Worshipful Company of Architects Measured Drawing Award, Highly Commended.
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For further information please contact Westmeath County Council Library Authority