Olde Port Portico

at the Jan K Platt library in Tampa, FL,

Since this is a library without walls the architect simply specified “arch” on his drawings by the entrance to the children’s area. The challenge was to make the kids feel this is a place especially for them. The Portico features an endangered Florida Panther reclining atop like the Cheshire cat, Greek style columns to indicate a place of learning, a mission style lintel since that style is popular in the region, eight marquetry designs for eight fields of study decorating the plinths of the columns, and a double animal bench carved as two manatees. You can see from this description how closely Cooper worked with the library staff to incorporate all these themes so meaningful to the library patrons.