Adapting to change: The Grandview Heights Public Library was seeking to establish a more permanent location for a beloved book drive-thru that became a fixture during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the design team was tasked with locating a permanent stage and pavilion to house the Music on the Lawn series that helps bring together thousands of Grandview Heights residents each summer.

An urban park: Upon completion of a campus wide master plan, the urban park concept was developed as a first phase to bring order to the various components of the site plan, while creating an enlarged park space for both residents and students to utilize on a more regular basis. REALM was engaged to customize a new modular book rental experience that helps to activate the park at its southern edge with both a vehicular drive-thru and pedestrian walk-up window.

With less parking needed due to increased use of the drive-thru and walk-up window, a portion of the existing lot will be converted to add green space for recreation, seating and food truck parking for events and programs. A new canopy structure was envisioned in collaboration with WSA studio to provide covered seating and a more permanent stage for yearly activities reducing the need for costly temporary stage setup and equipment rentals.