The design of the Langston Hughes Library maintains the integrity and character of the old barn while introducing a new inner layer. This integration of old and new allowed the artist to leave the main body of the building exposed and untouched and build the library within the existing structure.

The interior expresses the idea of a separate inner skin slipping inside the old barn.  It is only at the points where the two layers meet that one becomes aware of the transition from old to new.

The buildings incorporate recycled and green materials throughout, and the mechanical system is connected to a nearby pond that acts as a natural heat sink which helps regulate the temperature of the buildings.

In both the Library and Chapel Lin was able to create outdoor rooms that help maximize the spaces while affording the visitor a strong visual connection the surrounding landscape.