ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center Charlotte, North Carolina
Serving the youth of Charlotte, ImaginOn combines library and theater functions and is dedicated to creating a space where visitors experience the written, spoken, and electronic word in an integrated environment.
Location
Charlotte, North Carolina
Sector
Community
Service
Architecture
Client
Charlotte-Mecklenburg County
Status
Completed
Size
114,000 SF
250- and 550-Seat Multi-Purpose Theater
Users respond to stories in multi-sensory ways, and interactive features encourage them to participate in creating their own stories. The nurturing of young people at every stage of their development allows them to discover their individual potential and to challenge their intellect.
The building is a story all on its own, captivating the minds and imagination of families. As a center for learning, the building aims to build public awareness of environmental responsibility.
The first LEED Silver public building in Charlotte, it set an example for other public buildings in the area. Natural, local and regionally produced materials were used in conjunction with recycled-content materials.
Controlled natural light reduces the need for artificial lighting. Exterior shading devices on the perimeter glass walls, combined with the use of daylighting, reduces energy consumption and the requirements placed on mechanical systems.
Awards
AIA Charlotte: Honor Award for Design, 2007
Carole Hoefener Carriker Honor Award for Sustainable Design, 2007
ALA/IIDA Library Interior Design Award, Public Libraries > 30,000 SF: Merit Award, 2006
Charlotte Center City Partners: Vision Awards Special Achievement Award, 2006
National Council of Structural Engineers Associations Awards Program: Merit Award, 2006
Carolinas Clean Air Coalition: Airkeeper Award, 2005
Mecklenburg County Solid Waste Management: Green Building Project of the Year, 2005