The renovated McCormick Riverfront Library’s doors swung wide open to tell community members that this is ‘Your Place to Belong.’ The complex construction project—that has won a Dauphin County “Premier Project Award’’ from the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission—integrated the Haldeman Haly House with Dauphin County Library System’s flagship branch, a 111-year-old building, to expand access to education, technology, and social services. In revitalizing Harrisburg’s cultural and historic heritage, the building transformation reinforced the library’s role as an essential educational, community and cultural center. Aligned with the PA Forward Initiative’s five literacies, the project enhanced workforce development and literacy by providing job seekers with digital literacy training, offering STREAM programs for youth, and supporting kindergarten readiness through Born to Read, addressing the county’s 13% illiteracy rate. The library leverages many opportunities by collaborating with 20+ organizations, including Dauphin County Housing Authority and Downtown Daily Bread, to connect residents with housing support, food security, and workforce training. Additionally, Good Brotha’s Café and Pennsylvania’s Past Players highlight local Black history and support small businesses. With 950SF of flexible community space, the library is a host for social justice and civic education. This project blends historic preservation with modern innovation, ensuring equitable access to resources, lifelong learning, and a safe, inclusive space, shaping Harrisburg’s future in equitable inclusion while preserving its past.

In carefully preserving the library’s historical elements by integrating rich cultural elements and state-of-the-art features into its design, it embodies Harrisburg’s history. More than a library, it serves as a community anchor, enhancing downtown’s cultural, educational, and social fabric. The T. Morris Chester Welcome Center, honoring civil rights with a dedicated space for African American history, created in partnership with the Commonwealth Monument Project for deep community connections. Thoughtful design details elevate the library beyond the ordinary and reflect the vision of civic leaders and community members who support it.

This project set a new standard in innovation and preservation in uniting a historic riverfront townhouse with a modernized 19,866 SF library. The challenge was to create a fully accessible, unified space from seven different floor levels. A new central entrance and vertical circulation hub with a stair and elevator replaced inefficient access points. A ramp and reconfigured rear wing improved accessibility. Historic slate-clad stair elements were preserved, while energy-efficient storm windows, ventilation systems and a new roof contributed to sustainability and building performance efficiency. Innovative financing strategies played a key role, securing funds from RACP, TFEC, and county tourism grants, maximizing economic impact, job growth, and regional development. The multifaceted and resourceful approach serves as a model for historic preservation and modern functionality for long-term community benefits.

Adaptive reuse and preserving historic elements reduced this project’s carbon footprint by lowering the need for new materials and minimizing waste to enable environmental sustainability. Energy-efficient measures such as lighting, thermal envelope efficiencies with a new roof, new windows and building-wide caulking, plus ductwork and HVAC upgrades are saving energy to ensure long-term resilience and improved building performance for the library.

Project Partners:

• Owner – Dauphin County Library System
• Construction Manager – JEM Group
• Architect – Alexander Design Studio