Tiverton Library

The Tiverton Public Library merges tradition with innovation—honoring the town’s library heritage and agrarian vernacular while creating a dynamic 21st-century community hub. The design features flexible gathering spaces including a meeting hall, café, children’s library, teen room, and outdoor courtyards, all within an energy-efficient structure that uses two-thirds less energy per square foot than the previous facility.

Union designed both the building and its custom furnishings, crafting specialized computer stations, service points, and displays. The library’s strategic location connects it to existing community assets—adjacent recreational fields and a mixed-use arts cooperative (both Union projects), plus nearby middle and high schools—establishing it as the town’s vibrant focal point.

The challenge was striking the perfect balance: creating a timeless, contextual building that embraces modern flexibility. By grounding the design in local architectural precedent, we achieved what the library Trustees envisioned—a building that inspires the community to rediscover what a contemporary library can be while earning a cherished place in Tiverton’s heart.