橡树分馆图书馆由娜塔莉阿佩尔联合建筑师带来迫切需要的更新，其北部休斯敦社区的一个重要部分。这座图书馆最初建于1960年，是一座现代化的建筑，现在已经过时了。虽然原来的建筑受到社区的喜爱，但在附近的条形中心开发之后，它并不容易进入。

The Oak Forest Branch Library Renovation by Natalye Appel + Associates Architects brings much-needed renewal to a significant piece of its North Houston community. Originally built as a modern building in 1960, the library had become outdated and inept. Although the original building was liked by the neighborhood, it was not readily accessible in the wake of nearby strip center development.

 Courtesy of natalye appel + associate architects

娜塔莉·斯佩尔(Natalye Paul)

这项改革最引人注目的是扩大了图书馆的规模，将成人和青少年的羽翼伸向东方，构成了新的公共入口。其中还有一个新的户外阅读区，位于大橡树和松树的檐下。南面大部分是玻璃，让新的儿童阅读空间有充足的自然光线，使大部分原来的图书馆开放给更新后的办公室、洗手间、机械区域和其他工作人员空间。

The reformation involved most notably an expansion of the library to include adult and teen wings to the East that frame the new public entrance.  Also among this is a new outside reading area under the large oak and pine tree canopies.  The South façade is mostly glass to allow plenty of natural light into the new children’s reading space, leaving most of the original library open for updated offices, restrooms, mechanical areas, and other staff spaces.

最后，这一更新努力帮助重建图书馆成为其社区的积极主食，而回收和回收这些材料以进行如此显著的大修，使它获得了LEED黄金认证。

In the end, this renewal effort helped to re-establish the library as a positive staple in its community, and the recycling and reclamation of materials for such a remarkable overhaul earned it LEED Gold Certification.