MOUNT PLEASANT, NC – On the sunlit afternoon of August 10, 2023, the air was electric with anticipation as CPL gathered with representatives from Cabarrus County to commemorate the groundbreaking of their new Library and Active Living Center in Mount Pleasant, North Carolina.
The event, which drew more than 100 attendees, symbolized the County’s dedication to providing contemporary facilities that promote education, wellness and community enrichment.
Drawing inspiration from a feasibility study and community engagement efforts led by CPL, the team developed a plan to bring together a range of public assets into one unified complex.
“Right from the start, the County expressed a strong desire to maximize shared use of space that can be activated with intergenerational programming all day long,” said CPL Vice President and Principal in Charge, Rachel Nilson, AIA, NCARB. The result of this discovery is a dynamic Library and Active Living Center, thoughtfully crafted to cater to a wide array of needs and ages.
Nestled within Virginia Foil Park, where an expansive cornfield currently stretches, the new 20,000 sq. ft. building is poised to emerge, featuring a range of spaces including an expansive library with study zones, communal reading areas, business and technology areas, multipurpose programming spaces and fitness rooms. Beyond the building, construction endeavors will include the creation of several outdoor elements like ballfields, concessions, walking trails and other park elements.
As visitors step inside the center, they will be greeted with natural light, forming a central corridor that will weave through the heart of the building. This “spine” will not only illuminate the interior but also serve as a delineation point, seamlessly guiding visitors between distinct program areas.
Outside of the building will be a curated ecosystem that encourages the natural transition between indoor and outdoor spaces, fostering an environment where borrowing a book from the library and reading amidst the park’s greenery is not just possible, but actively encouraged.
Collaborative efforts were central to bringing this vision to life.
“Our team united with both County and city leaders as well as residents to create a facility that will welcome all into one location—a true community heart that reflects the pulse of Mt. Pleasant,” Nilson emphasized.
CPL provided planning, architectural and engineering services, and will work alongside Edifice (Construction Manager), Prosim Engineering, Benesch and 720 Design for the construction of the Library and Active Living Center.
The center is slated for completion in 2024.
About CPL
Founded in 1975, CPL is a 500+ person multi-disciplined architecture, engineering and planning firm offering inspiring design services and enriching communities in 24 cities across seven states. CPL specializes in the Community, Healthcare, Higher Education, and K-12 Education market sectors – providing architectural, interior design, civil engineering, buildings and structural engineering, planning, landscape architecture and 3D/virtual design services to a host of public and private clients.