Brentwood Library Plans New Teen Space With Academic Feel

Published on September 03, 2026

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – For years, the John P. Holt Brentwood Library staff and the city’s Library Board have heard consistent feedback from the community – local teens need an updated space of their own.

That feedback is now becoming a reality. The John P. Holt Brentwood Library is moving forward with plans to transform the former Quiet Room into a new Teen Space designed around the needs, preferences, and vision shared by Brentwood teens.

“We took a survey of teens in the Brentwood community who use the library, and we also worked with our Teen Advisory Board to get their input for the primary functions of what the space would be – the vibe, look, and feel of the space,” Library Director Lee Bouile said.

That community input guided the library’s next step – finding a design firm that could translate the teens’ vision into a thoughtful, functional space. Multiple firms presented ideas based on the goals and feedback provided by library staff and the Library Board.

The Library Board and library staff ultimately selected the Nashville-based design firm Daniels Chandler because of its alignment with the goals and vision for the Teen Space.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to move forward with this,” Cheryl Waltko, chair of the Brentwood Library Board, said. “We spent a lot of time in our space planning meetings, as well as in our regular board meetings, going through this.”

Daniels Chandler’s design brings an academic feel to the space, incorporating elements such as arched windows, darker wood tones, cozy study areas, and a fireplace. The design also includes a new entrance and vestibule intended to create a distinctive experience for teens.

“It’ll give it that sort of collegiate library feel, which is the next step for these teens,” Meredith Bardill, an architect with Daniels Chandler, said. “They’re going to be going off to college, studying in spaces like these.”

On Aug. 24, the Brentwood City Commission approved a $60,000 contract with Daniels Chandler to move the project into the official design phase. Construction is anticipated to begin in early 2027. Once complete, the new Teen Space will occupy the former Quiet Room. The previous Teen Space was recently transformed into an upscale Quiet Room.

The project is part of a broader effort by the Library Board, City Commission, and library staff to invest in improvements that enhance the library experience for the Brentwood community.

The entire project, including the design phase, will be funded through the Holt Trust. In 2017, the Brentwood City Commission accepted a generous $4.2 million bequest from the estate of O'Delle K. Holt. Her gift, made in honor of her late husband, John P. Holt, is dedicated exclusively to enhancing the library's facilities, grounds, and services beyond normal operating and capital expenditures.

Since the establishment of the Holt Trust, the Library Board, City Commission, and library staff have worked together to invest these funds in improvements to the Meeting Room/Learning Lab, new furnishings for the Children's Library, renovations to the Friends Gathering Room, improvements to staff work areas, and construction of the new Quiet Room.

For more information on the John P. Holt Brentwood Library, visit library.brentwoodtn.gov.