A Custom Carbon Steel Curtain Wall for Tufts Library

The minute you see the new Tufts Library in Weymouth, Massachusetts, you will know this is not your old 20^th century library. Over time, technology has made libraries across the globe adapt, as they are no longer just a quiet place to check out a book. They have become the communal gathering spots for residents and visitors to meet, learn, explore and relax. Key elements and features in the new Tufts Library are now the pinnacle of modern library design.

Tufts Library

Originally built in 1965 and consisting of 33,000 ft², Tufts library was an anchor in the town of Weymouth, just outside of Boston. As the years passed and the community grew, the library had become antiquated and out of style. As new technologies emerged, the possibilities easily came into focus with an intent for fresh design and a charming footprint. In 2016, the town decided they needed to renovate Tufts Library to bring it into the 21^st century and offer something for everyone in the community. After several district meetings and budget reviews, the town council approved the $33 million plan.

The committee for the architectural design chose Tappé Architects to lead this project. The plan called for a major increase in size to 52,000 ft² so that the library could meet the community’s needs. In modern architecture, public spaces are about flexibility and efficiency. It is imperative that the spaces can expand and adapt and that they fill a need for a wide range of visitors. That is certainly true in this project as the improvements included an expanded children’s department, a local history center, public meeting rooms, a media lab, study rooms and even an outdoor amphitheater.
Delayed slightly by the global Covid pandemic, the new Tufts Library opened on October 1, 2020. No matter where you are in the building, you can see the rationale that went into the design and the attention to details in meeting the needs of a diverse society. Since opening, many visitors and enthusiasts have called Tufts the best library in the state.

Custom Carbon Steel Curtain Wall Profiles

One of the unique features of the new Tufts Library are the open reading areas with ample outdoor views. From inside the building, large windows offer views of the amphitheater, the gardens and the playgrounds. These windows with expansive views were made possible with a custom curtain wall system fabricated by Chandler Architectural Products. Chandler is local to Massachusetts and they engineer and fabricate custom curtain wall framing in their state of the art fabrication facility.
With this curtain wall system being visible to all of the guests, the custom profiles needed a modern, sharp look. Laser welded carbon steel profiles provide a perfect match for the design and appearance required for this curtain wall. For this project, we supplied over 70,000 pounds of tailored shapes in grade A36 carbon steel tees, rectangle tube, and angles in 20-foot lengths. All of these profiles had sharp corners, square edges and invisible weld seams that laser welding provides. Everyone was very pleased with the finished product and you can see from the photos the expansive curtain wall of glass with exquisite views.

Sharp Corner and Structural Steel Profiles

Do not let the name fool you. We produce more than just stainless steel structural shapes. Our production technologies allow us to provide profiles across various platforms with a heavy emphasis on industrial and architectural applications. Our sharp cornered steel profiles are perfect for curtain wall structures like the one for Tufts Library. No other technology offers the flexibility in steel or stainless steel designs as that of laser welding. Contact us today to find out more about our cutting edge, high quality, innovative products.