DeKalb County Selects Architecture and Engineering Firm for Brookhaven Library Replacement

DECATUR, Ga. – (July 25, 2023) – DeKalb Coun­ty Pub­lic Library is delight­ed to announce that the DeKalb Coun­ty Board of Com­mis­sion­ers has approved the archi­tec­tur­al and engi­neer­ing (A&E) ser­vices con­tract for the replace­ment of Brookhaven Library. After a com­pet­i­tive bid­ding process, Cas Archi­tec­ture emerged as the high­est scor­ing pro­pos­er. The firm was cho­sen based on its exper­tise and expe­ri­ence design­ing inno­v­a­tive, mod­ern libraries in Georgia. 

“We are excit­ed to reach this sig­nif­i­cant mile­stone in the process for replac­ing Brookhaven Library,” said Ali­son Weissinger, direc­tor, DeKalb Coun­ty Pub­lic Library. ​“The new library will fea­ture the lat­est tech­nol­o­gy, pro­vide a wel­com­ing space for read­ers and serve as a des­ti­na­tion for life­long learn­ing. As we move for­ward with the project, we invite every­one to stay con­nect­ed with us and join in cel­e­brat­ing the progress that unfolds.”

The new library will be dou­ble in size, and house a well-curat­ed col­lec­tion to meet com­mu­ni­ty needs. Inte­ri­or and exte­ri­or envi­ron­ments will be out­fit­ted with attrac­tive and com­fort­able fur­ni­ture, ener­gy effi­cient light­ing and sys­tems, and recon­fig­urable pub­lic spaces to accom­mo­date cur­rent and future demands.

“The award­ing of this con­tract to Cas Archi­tec­ture solid­i­fies our com­mit­ment to excel­lence in pro­vid­ing a state-of-the-art facil­i­ty that will inspire gen­er­a­tions to come,” said DeKalb Coun­ty Com­mis­sion­er Michelle Long Spears. ​“Their notable exper­tise and cre­ative inge­nu­ity will undoubt­ed­ly bring to life a new library that will stand as a pil­lar of knowl­edge, com­mu­ni­ty and advance­ment in Brookhaven.” 

Com­mis­sion­er Ted Ter­ry added, ​“This $388,000 invest­ment in archi­tec­tur­al and design ser­vices is more than just a finan­cial com­mit­ment — it is a tes­ta­ment to the val­ue we place on knowl­edge, edu­ca­tion and com­mu­ni­ty engage­ment in Brookhaven. This new Brookhaven Library branch will undoubt­ed­ly serve as a hub for these val­ues, and as a bea­con of growth and oppor­tu­ni­ty for all who call our coun­ty home.”

Com­mu­ni­ty mem­bers will have the chance to share their ideas and pro­vide feed­back about the design at pub­lic forums orga­nized by DeKalb Coun­ty Pub­lic Library and Cas Archi­tec­ture.

​“We’re hon­ored to be cho­sen to design and over­see the con­struc­tion of Brookhaven Library,” said Chad Alexan­der Smith, pres­i­dent and founder of Cas Archi­tec­ture. ​“This will be one of our most inno­v­a­tive projects to date, and we can’t wait to see the doors open to the pub­lic.”

The Brookhaven Library facil­i­ty was select­ed for replace­ment as part of a library bond ref­er­en­dum in 2005. The build­ing of the library will mark the cul­mi­na­tion of con­struc­tion enabled with 2005 bond funds.