With patron needs expand­ing, the Glen­side Pub­lic Library planned a major expan­sion to its 15-year-old build­ing. Their pro­gram includ­ed a sep­a­rate children’s library, enhanced com­put­er facil­i­ties in all depart­ments, a larg­er adult ser­vices depart­ment with a sep­a­rate qui­et study room, and increased capac­i­ty for pub­lic meetings.

The design direc­tion extends the forms of the orig­i­nal build­ing while open­ing the library to nat­ur­al light through a dra­mat­ic cleresto­ry win­dowed path. This path leads from the front doors through the adult ser­vices area cul­mi­nat­ing in the qui­et study room. The library has been reori­ent­ed to take advan­tage of views toward pub­lic park­land to the South and East. 

Upon entry, patrons have direct access to pub­lic meet­ing rooms, which can be used after nor­mal library hours; the children’s depart­ment, locat­ed in a new wing extend­ing South toward the park; adult ser­vices housed in the orig­i­nal build­ing and the library admin­is­tra­tion and tech­ni­cal ser­vices locat­ed on a mez­za­nine over­look­ing the read­ing room.

Client: Glen­side Pub­lic Library
Pro­gram: Pub­lic library renovation/​addition
Size: 20,000 SF ren­o­va­tion, 13,000 SF addi­tion
Cost: $5,200,000

Select­ed Awards/​Honors:
Bronze Medal, Illi­nois Indi­ana Mason­ry Award, 2003.

Col­lab­o­ra­tive Part­ners: 
Calor Design Group (MEP Engi­neer)
Bar­ry Gold­berg Asso­ciates (Struc­tur­al Engi­neer)
Ter­ra Engi­neer­ing (Civ­il Engineer)