Traphene Hickman Library

Designed to support lifelong learning, creative collaboration, and civic engagement, the new facility combines a public library, a flexible event venue, and a rotating museum exhibition space developed in partnership with the Cedar Hill Museum of History.

Program elements include hands-on makerspaces, a digital media lab, dedicated areas for children and teens, community meeting rooms, and a social café with outdoor seating. The museum space highlights curated artifacts and local stories, enriching the educational and cultural offerings available to visitors.

Rooted in its natural context, the design draws inspiration from nearby Cedar Hill State Park and the surrounding Bentle Branch Creek. The project was envisioned as a “Library within a Park,” integrating architecture and landscape to create a seamless experience. Glazed walls, shaded terraces, and carefully planned pathways connect indoor and outdoor spaces, inviting patrons to move freely between reading rooms, gathering areas, and nature.

Interior spaces are adaptable and welcoming, supporting everything from quiet study and small group collaboration to large-scale events and outdoor programs. By weaving together education, history, and community in a setting shaped by nature, the Traphene Hickman Library offers an inclusive and enduring public resource for generations to come.