The St. Louis Public Library Central Library Restoration/Transformation Recipient of American Institute of Architects Honor Award

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) recently announced the recipients of their the 2014 Institute Honor Awards  for Architecture.
One of the 11  recipients for 2014 was the restored St. Louis Public Library, Central Library.

The AIA award, “recognizes achievements for a broad range of architectural activity to elevate the general quality of architecture practice, establish a standard of excellence against which all architects can measure performance, and inform the public of the breadth and value of architecture practice.”

Here’s some of what the AIA had to say about the St. Louis Public Library, Central Library Transformation and Restoration (Cannon Design) here.

From the building’s original south entry, a granite stair leads to the reception foyer, which is connected to a central Great Hall. The hall is surrounded by five wings, four dedicated to public reading rooms and the fifth, the North Wing, to a multistory book depository.
The North Wing transformation was the most dramatic move in the rejuvenation of this building. Between the walls of the North Wing, Gilbert had inserted a structurally independent steel skeleton for floor support and book shelving. The renovation involved removing the old “building within the building” to address fire and seismic hazard. A multistory public atrium now welcomes visitors coming through a new north-facing entry. Reflecting Gilbert’s intent, new “floating platforms” surround the atrium without touching the interior walls. The glass-enclosed upper levels house the library’s collection in high-density bookshelves.

Read the Complete Citation
See Also: Additional Info/Reactions from the St. Louis Public Library

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