BCI Shelving and Furnishings Help Bring Mesa’s Award-Winning Gateway Library to Life
A new library can change the way a community gathers, learns, and discovers. Mesa’s Gateway Library in Arizona is receiving international recognition for doing exactly that—and BCI is proud to have supplied interior shelving and furnishings for the project.
In August, Gateway was named the 2026 IFLA/James Bennett Public Library of the Year. The honor recognizes outstanding new public libraries around the world and has earned Gateway recognition as the world’s best new public library.
For BCI, the project represents the opportunity to contribute to a space where architecture, interior design, and everyday library use come together.
From Planning to Installation
Following extensive planning and coordination, BCI was selected in late 2024 to provide interior shelving and furnishings for Mesa Public Library’s new Gateway branch. Installation was completed in 2025.
BCI worked with the architect, RICHÄRD | KENNEDY ARCHITECTS, and primarily with the interior design firm, WHITE BAUX STUDIO. The project team included Kevin Kolden, AIA, Associate Principal at RICHÄRD | KENNEDY ARCHITECTS, and Kelly Bauer Novak, NCIDQ, FIIDA, Principal at WHITE BAUX STUDIO.
The library team included Mesa Public Library Director Polly Bonnett and Branch Coordinator Erin P. Jones. Bringing together library staff, design professionals, and furnishing partners helped translate the project’s vision into a completed community space.
BCI Products Featured at Gateway Library
A library interior needs to accommodate collections, displays, staff services, and the people using the space. BCI’s contribution included a combination of shelving, counter, and display products:
- 60/30 Classic Steel Shelving
- London End Panels and Canopy Tops
- Inform Round Shelving
- Inform Counter System
- Lingo Square Display
- Labyrinth Book Shelf and Book Tower
Together, these selections address several essential parts of the library interior, from housing books to presenting materials and supporting service points. They demonstrate the range of furnishing elements involved in a modern library project.
Explore BCI’s library shelving systems and broader library furniture collection for options to support your own space.
Recognition Before and After Opening
Gateway’s recognition began before the completed library welcomed visitors. In 2024, the project received an ALA/IIDA Library Interior Design Award in the “On the Boards” category, recognizing the proposed design.
After completion, Gateway received a 2026 ALA/IIDA Library Interior Design Award in the Public Libraries—30,000 Square Feet and Under category. These awards are presented by the American Library Association and the International Interior Design Association.
Its latest achievement, the 2026 IFLA/James Bennett Public Library of the Year Award, recognizes the library’s welcoming spaces, flexible layout, technology, and connection to its community and desert setting.
BCI congratulates Mesa Public Library, RICHÄRD | KENNEDY ARCHITECTS, WHITE BAUX STUDIO, and the full project team on these achievements.
Plan a Library That Serves Your Community
Gateway illustrates how many decisions contribute to a successful library interior. Shelving, displays, and service counters are part of a larger plan that must support both the design vision and daily use.
BCI’s library design process starts with listening to the people behind each project and understanding how their space needs to function. Whether you are furnishing a new building or updating an existing library, contact BCI to discuss your project.
Frequently Asked Questions
What award did Mesa’s Gateway Library win in 2026?
Gateway Library won the 2026 IFLA/James Bennett Public Library of the Year Award. It also received a 2026 ALA/IIDA Library Interior Design Award in the Public Libraries—30,000 Square Feet and Under category.
Which BCI products were used at Gateway Library?
The project included 60/30 Classic Steel Shelving, London End Panels and Canopy Tops, Inform Round Shelving, the Inform Counter System, Lingo Square Display, and Labyrinth Book Shelf and Book Tower.
Who designed Gateway Library?
The architectural firm was RICHÄRD | KENNEDY ARCHITECTS, working with interior design firm WHITE BAUX STUDIO. BCI supplied interior shelving and various furnishings.