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Winners of the 2008 Connecticut Excellence in Public Library Architecture

The Connecticut Excellence in Public Library Architecture Awards are given every three years to encourage excellence in the architectural design and functional planning of public library buildings in the state.  Awards are given in two categories, libraries under 18,000 square feet and libraries 18,000 square feet and over. 

This year a jury panel consisting of two librarians and two architects, all from out of state, reviewed and evaluated 16 construction projects completed between 2001 and 2006 that were submitted for consideration. These projects covered a wide spectrum of building styles and design solutions which made choosing winners a challenge for the jurors.

The 2008 winner for public libraries under 18,000 square feet is the Scotland Public Library (More Photos), a 7,000 square foot new building. Scotland is a small, rural New England town in the northeast corner of the state with a population of 1,699.  The library's architect was Angela D. Cahill, Schoenhardt Architecture + Interior Design.   Local businessman Andrew D'Elia donated two million dollars for the purchase of land and construction of the building, making the Scotland Public Library a public/private partnership in the true Carnegie tradition.  The building also contains a 1,000 square foot museum featuring Mr. D'Elia's collection of antique tools. The cost of this project ($1,688,709) represents a good value for the community.

The jurors commented that the architect made excellent use of a challenging site including the design of a nature walk with raised boardwalks through the existing wetlands.  The interior layout with clear sight lines enables good control by a small staff.  The building was designed with high quality, attractive finishes that will be able to stand up to public use for many years to come. The building has well proportioned interior spaces with interesting detailing such as the tall casement windows, stained glass, and coffered ceilings. To supplement the natural lighting, the architect has employed a thoughtful use of artificial lighting that is efficient and glare free.    A mural in the children's room adds color and vitality to the space.  The design appears to be adaptable to the changing needs of the community and to future technological innovations.  The covered drive-up book drop provides convenience for patrons, especially in snowy or wet weather. 

The 2008 winner for public libraries over 18,000 square feet is the Wilton Library (More Photos), a  50,000 square foot addition and renovation project. Wilton, with a population 17,633, is nestled in the Norwalk River Valley in western Connecticut (Fairfield County) north of the City of Norwalk.  The architect was Tao Soo Kim, Tao Soo Kim Partners. The cost of this project ($11,400,000), while not inexpensive, represents exceptional value for the community.

Jurors commented that the architect enhanced the original design while maintaining the clean elegance of the original and modern Bauhaus inspired style. The result is an addition that complements the original architectural design. The majority of the exterior walls in the public areas are windows, thereby providing a close connection to the outside and an abundance of light.  The neutral color palette inside enhances the distribution of natural light.  The building has two open-air courtyards where customers can sit and read books or use their laptop computers during good weather or look out to enjoy the beauty of falling snow in winter.  The main meeting room is a beautiful and flexible space that expands into to an inspirational outdoor courtyard area. The design of this space to accommodate concerts is exquisite! The lighting, both artificial and natural, was well conceived and is particularly attractive at night when it creates a warm and welcoming oasis.  The building design approaches a green standard through the use of natural light.

The overall design exceeds the stated objectives in the long range plan.  The expanded library is adaptable to the changing needs of the community and future technological innovations.  The layout is very customer and staff friendly because the majority of public services are on the first floor.  The placement of the children's library is convenient for parents and children while being acoustically separate from the rest of the library.

The jurors also appreciated the inclusion of a full service drive-up window.  This submission benefited from the high quality plans and photos, and the easy to read graphics. The inclusion of a model photo clarified the nature of the design.

Jurors also awarded an honorable mention to Fairfield Public Library (More Photos).  Herbert S. Newman, Herbert S. Newman and Partners P.C. Architect, has created an attractive composition with new building elements complementing and enhancing older historic architecture with imaginatively designed modern elements.  This is a complex design where architects faced many challenges, especially unifying multiple levels from several previous additions. The building has a variety of interesting and colorful spaces in a mix of styles.  The new interior and casework elements are clean and well designed.

Michael Joyce, Argyle Design, Inc., designed an innovative children's space that invites exploration, discovery, and learning.  To make children feel comfortable, welcome, and secure, he has broken up the area into smaller "neighborhoods". The neighborhoods are based on several familiar historic landmarks in the Town of Fairfield: a Gazebo, a Lighthouse, a Town Green, a Country Store, a Farm yard, a Book Shop, a Train Station, and a Town Hall.

The two architect jurors were Stephen Hale, AIA, (Boston, MA), and Jay J. Litman, AIA (Barrington, RI). The two librarian jurors were Karen Mellor, Construction Grants, Office of Library & Information Services, Rhode Island; and Douglas A. Pearce, Director of Warwick (RI) Public Library and a Library Building Consultant. Mary Louise Jensen, Building Consultant for the Connecticut State Library, was the non-voting facilitator.

Connecticut Excellence in Public Library Architecture Awards are sponsored by:

• The Connecticut State Library
• The Connecticut Library Association
• The Association of Connecticut Library Boards (ACLB).
• The AIA Connecticut (AIA/CT)
• The Friends of Connecticut Libraries (FOCL)

The next awards will be given in 2011.

Jay Cassano Photography did the pictures for the Scotland Public Library.  Woodruff & Brown Photography did the pictures for the Wilton Library.  This article will also appear in the Connecticut State Library CONNector and on WebJunction Connecticut.