Located in the former Carnegie Free Library of Allegheny and adjacent to the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, the building had been vacant since a 2006 lightning strike damaged the roof, and the years of neglect left the building in poor condition. Instead of being discouraged by the limitations of the existing building, the design team viewed it as an opportunity to preserve the historical integrity of the building by revitalizing the 129-year old historic structure and incorporating many modern building concepts to reflect current user needs. One of those concepts is universal design.The facility has many interesting and exciting features like the flexibility and adaptability of open spaces, a comprehensive and clear wayfinding plan, and special attention to sustainability, indoor air quality, thermal environment, acoustics and lighting.