James H. White Library
Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, Mississippi

James H. White Library
Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, Mississippi

James H. White Library
Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, Mississippi

James H. White Library
Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, Mississippi

James H. White Library
Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, Mississippi

James H. White Library
Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, Mississippi

James H. White Library
Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, Mississippi

James H. White Library
Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, Mississippi

James H. White Library
Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, Mississippi

James H. White Library
Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, Mississippi

James H. White Library
Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, Mississippi

James H. White Library

Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, MS

The James H. White Library was sited and built at the center of campus and was designed to be the academic and social locus in this expansive flat landscape in the Mississippi Delta. Over the years, the existing 75,754-square-foot building had fallen into disrepair and out of sync with the needs of a modern library. Very few students or faculty could be found in the library at any time. Even with a limited budget, the building required a full re-envisioning as a modern library to fulfill its mission once again as the academic and social center of campus.

The design strategy was clear – turn the building inside out by moving the stacks into the shadowed interior of the building and opening the perimeter to reading rooms and classrooms. The corner precast panels on the existing building were removed and new two-story glazed corners create light-filled reading and collaboration spaces, inviting patrons both inside and out.

Since completion, the library is often filled with students, faculty, and staff at all hours of the day and night.

Duvall Decker was assisted by Structural Engineering Associates, LLC, Atherton Consulting Engineers, The Power Source, LLC, and Environmental Management Plus.

Awards
AIA Mississippi Merit Award