The firm Osler/Milling Architects was selected from a field of over 70 architectural firms that applied to design a 22,000-square-foot addition and to restore the 8,000-sq.ft. original turn-of-the-century library structure. A major challenge regarding this commission was to preserve the strong historical image of the existing building while providing an addition nearly four times its size.
This expansion on a cherished downtown site was to respect the original building -- any "muscle-flexing" would overwhelm the historic library structure. A ramp allowed the designers to "tuck" the addition behind the original structure, thus allowing new traditionally-designed cornices and belt courses to align with those on the existing building while assigning a lesser status to the building addition.
- Total Size 30,000 SF
- Renovation Size 8,000 SF
- Addition Size 22,000 SF